Formation and Development of Economic Analysis of Law

The article discusses the main historical milestones in the development of the ideas of economic analysis of law. The scientific works of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Frederic Bastiat, which laid the conceptual foundation for the use of the economic approach in legal science, are analyzed. Among the founding fathers of the economic analysis of law, the author proposes to single out a number of outstanding economists and lawyers. The article pays special attention to the research of scientists Ronald Coase, Guido Calabresi, Gary Becker and Richard Posner, who made a significant contribution to the development and popularization of the ideas of economic analysis of law, including in the higher legal school. The author comes to the conclusion that the economic analysis of law as an independent concept has come a long way of formation and development. Thanks to outstanding scientists-economists, a kind of revolution took place in legal science and legal education. In conclusion, the author emphasizes the importance of applying a historical approach to the study of the inclusion of economic prerequisites in jurisprudence and emphasizes the positive prospects for using historical methodology for research in domestic law.