Forensic Economics

A new field is emerging in economics, Forensic Economics. Eric Zitzewitz has an article in this issue of the Journal of Economic Literature providing an exciting overview on this emerging field.

Examples include teachers cheating on exams, road builders skimping on materials, violations of U.N. sanctions, unnecessary heart surgeries, and racial biases in employment decisions, traffic stops, auto retailing, and even sports judging. In each case, part of the contribution of economic analysis is in uncovering evidence of wrongdoing.