Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/114992 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
Diskussionspapier No. 154
Publisher: 
Helmut-Schmidt-Universität - Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg, Fächergruppe Volkswirtschaftslehre, Hamburg
Abstract: 
The appellate review system is intended to serve as an efficient remedy for imperfect judicial decision making. However, it can fulfill this task only when appeals are filed solely due to bad verdicts and are ex-ante unpredictable based on factors that are exogenous to the judge. Using data from case records of a German trial court, we show that the probability of appeal can be predicted based on easily observable exogenous factors. Controlling for the complexity of a legal case, we find that judges also tend to increase their effort when the ex-ante probability of appeal is high. Thus, our empirical evidence indicates an inefficiency in the appellate review system.
Subjects: 
litigation
judicial behavior
appellate review
civil procedure
JEL: 
K10
K41
D82
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
559.38 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.