Measuring the Gains from Labor Specialization

Abstract

We estimate the productivity effects of labor specialization using a judicial environment that offers a quasi-experimental setting well suited to this purpose. Judges in this environment are randomly assigned many different types of cases. This assignment generates random streaks of same-type cases which create mini-specialization events unrelated to the characteristics of judges or cases. We estimate that when judges receive more cases of a certain type they become faster, i.e., more likely to close cases of that type in any one of the corresponding hearings. Quality, as measured by probability of an appeal, is not negatively affected.

Advantage and Risks of the Specialization of Courts in Social and Labor Disputes

“…Only an extra-specialist in a particular area of legal relations should and can administer justice that ensures not only law and order, but also the trust of society. The results of scientific research (Coviello et al, 2019;Kleandrov, 2021) confirm that the specialization of judges has a positive effect on the quality of the administration of justice and the timing of cases in courts.…”

“…• research results (Coviello et al, 2019;Castelliano et al, 2021) show that the specialization of judges to consider the same type of cases leads to faster trials and decisions. At the same time, the quality of the administration of justice is not reduced;…”

Mandatory minimum sentencing and its effect on sentencing distributions: Evidence from Canada

“…For example,Abrams et al (2022) provide evidence that judicial sentences vary spatially and respond to local norms. The idea that judges' sentencing is not time invariant is shown empirically inCoviello et al (2019), who provide evidence that judges learn from experiences of treating similar cases. Related,Berdejo and Chen (2017) show how judges are influenced by the political climate as elections near.15 This is in contrast to the United States, where every state has a different analogous set of criminal laws.16 More information about these sentencing categories can be found at www.justice.gc.ca/eng/ cj-jp/victims-victimes/court-tribunaux/offences-infractions.html.…”