Introduction:

Dr. Daniel L. Chen will discuss the role and opportunities for empirics in legal research, and present his paper 'How do rights revolutions occur? free speech and the first amendment'.

Abstract:

Does law shape values? We test a model of law and norms using an area of law with emotional salience and controversy. Since 1958, Democratic judges have been 10% more likely than Re- publicans to favor progressive free speech standards. Using the random assignment of U.S. federal judges setting geographically-local precedent, we estimate that progressive free speech standards liberalized sex- ual attitudes and behaviors and had secondary effects on sex-related crimes and diseases. To corroborate a causal channel we conduct a field experiment with data entry workers. Exposure to progressive decisions liberalized sexual attitudes and shifted norm perceptions but not self-reported behavior.

Attendance:

The event is open for FDR and FEB employees and FDR students. No need to register in advance. For questions you can email Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius, f.j.zuiderveenborgesius@uva.nl.

Lunch will be provided.