from introduction:

On meeting Jürgen Backhaus one of the surprises for me was the rather unusual combination of teaching and research interests we had in common: public finance, law and economics, history of economics. Next to these Jürgen will have some more beyond my view. This contribution dedicated to him is mainly in the domain of law and economics. It all started with the psychologist who argued that cheating can be fun. No, said the professor in moral philosophy: take a dictionary and read that cheating is wrong. As the circle of contributors to what was to become a multidisciplinary course on deceit widened the task befell on me to bring in the economic point of view. Can one survive in economic life without lies? The answer is yes, it is even a must. In the economist’s blueprint for the economy there is no place for liars.