Research report 2011 - Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance
Regulation by means of private law
Authors
Alexander Hellgardt
Departments
Abteilung Unternehmens- und Steuerrecht (Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Wolfgang Schön)
Max-Planck-Institut für Steuerrecht und Öffentliche Finanzen, München
Max-Planck-Institut für Steuerrecht und Öffentliche Finanzen, München
Summary
The balancing of private interests has hitherto been seen as the primary task of private law. However, a research project at the Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance shows that private law is better conceived of as a tool which the legislator may use to regulate economy or society. In this respect, private law competes with criminal law and administrative law and serves the public interest. A new concept of private law does not only challenge jurisprudential theories but also entails important consequences for legislation and legal practice.