Working Paper: NBER ID: w10094
Authors: Steven Shavell
Abstract: The major theme of this article is that the interpretation of contracts -- their possible amplification, correction, and modification by adjudicators -- is in the interests of contracting parties. The general reasons are (a) that interpretation may improve on otherwise imperfect contracts; and (b) that the prospect of interpretation allows parties to write simpler contracts and thus to conserve on contracting effort. A method of interpretation is defined as a function whose argument is the written contract and whose value is another contract, the interpreted contract, which is what actually governs the parties' joint enterprise. It is shown that interpretation is superior to enforcement of contracts as written, and the optimal method of interpretation is analyzed.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: D00; D8; K12
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| interpretation methods (C02) | writing costs (M41) |
| interpretation methods (C02) | contract efficiency (D61) |
| optimal method of interpretation (C51) | expected payoffs (J33) |
| specific contractual terms interpreted as written (K12) | ideal outcomes (L21) |
| general terms overridden (Y20) | reflect parties' intentions (D72) |