Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/73304 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2007
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 0713
Publisher: 
Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Department of Economics, Linz
Abstract: 
We present a model where divorcing spouses can choose to hire lawyers in their divorce process. Spouses encounter incentives as in the classical prisoners’ dilemma: Despite the zero sum nature of the game and the lawyers’ fees, each spouse has an incentive to hire a lawyer. We propose a simple institutional setting allowing for joint lawyers in order to overcome this socially inefficient situation. This model is estimated and tested with rich micro-data from court records. Employing a multiple treatment matching procedure we estimate the causal effect of lawyers on the division of matrimonial property, on the length of the divorce process and on the quality of the divorce settlement.
Subjects: 
litigation
lawyers
divorce settlements
dispute resolution
family law
multiple treatment matching
JEL: 
K41
J12
J52
K36
C72
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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