Lawmakers as Norm Entrepreneurs

Emanuela Carbonara, University of Bologna, Department of Economics
Francesco Parisi, University of Minnesota, Law School and University of Bologna, Department of Economics
Georg von Wangenheim, University of Kassel, Faculty of Law

Abstract

In this paper we consider the role of lawmakers as norm entrepreneurs. Drawing from expressive law theories and social response theories, we shed light on the role of law in shaping social values and norms, and on the ability of the law to produce social norms where they did not exist before. Furthermore, we unveil a possible undesirable effect of legal intervention, where a legal innovation can cause social divide and possible conflicts.