David A. Weisbach : Courses and Seminars
Climate Change
LAWS 46012
This seminar will study the law, economics, and policy of climate change. It will be centered around a simulation of climate change negotiations. Students will be assigned to represent a nation or region as diplomats at an international climate change treaty negotiation (sorry, no exotic locations, just a seminar room). The initial sessions will be devoted to briefings for the diplomats from scientists, economists, and industry. If possible, we will have field scientists and representatives from industry do these briefing and the student/diplomats will have the opportunity to pose questions. The latter part of class will devoted to the negotiations and a debriefing. Student/diplomats can also negotiate outside of the formal in-class negotiations, with nations making any side-deals that they desire. Student/diplomats will have to prepare positions papers for their countries that examine the incentives of the country to participate in various treaties, including the impact of climate change on that country, the costs of mitigation of the harm, and the local industries affected by a treaty. Position papers should also consider issues of justice: how much of the burden should each nation be obligated to bear. Grades will be based on the position papers and class participation, including advocacy of your country's interests. Enrollment is limited to 20.
Autumn 2009
David A. Weisbach
Independent Research
LAWS 49901
Second- and third-year students may earn course credit by independent research under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Such projects are arranged by consultation between the student and the particular member of the faculty in whose field the proposed topic falls.
Autumn 2009
David A. Weisbach
Corporate Finance
LAWS 42501
This course examines basic corporate financial matters, including valuation of securities and projects, portfolio theory, returns to risk bearing, the theory of efficient capital markets, the use and valuation of options and derivatives, and corporate capital structure. The course primarily focuses on the financial aspects of these matters rather than on any specific laws governing particular transactions, and the textbook is a basic business school corporate finance textbook. A student's grade is based on a proctored final examination. Students with substantial prior exposure to these issues (such as students with an MBA, joint MBA/JD, and undergraduate finance majors) are ineligible for the course.
Winter 2010
David A. Weisbach
Introductory Income Taxation
LAWS 44121
This course provides a survey of the essential elements of the U.S. income tax, with principal focus on the taxation of individuals. Points of concern are the nature of income, its timing and measurement, the notions of tax benefit and tax incentive, realization, sales and exchanges, the boundary between personal and business expenditures, capital recovery and capital gains, and assignment of income among related taxpayers. The student's grade is based on a proctored examination.
Winter 2010
David A. Weisbach
Independent Research
LAWS 49901
Second- and third-year students may earn course credit by independent research under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Such projects are arranged by consultation between the student and the particular member of the faculty in whose field the proposed topic falls.
Winter 2010
David A. Weisbach
Independent Research
LAWS 49901
Second- and third-year students may earn course credit by independent research under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Such projects are arranged by consultation between the student and the particular member of the faculty in whose field the proposed topic falls.
Spring 2010
David A. Weisbach
