The Evolution of Outer Space Law: An Economic Analysis of Rule Formation

Abstract

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my thesis committee for their support, patience, and the freedom to write this thesis. I thank Dr. David Whalen and Dr. James Casler for each serving as my Committee Chair over the last seven years and encouraging me to finish this thesis. I also thank Professor Joseph Vacek for serving on my committee and helping to lay the foundation for this thesis while a graduate student in his (my first) space law course. Without my committee's support and devotion to my education, I would not have completed this body of work. This thesis is the product of over five years of research. In that time, my knowledge and understanding of space law, policy, and history, specifically, and public international law, generally, has grown because I have had the extraordinary benefit of knowing many of the great educators, mentors, friends, and colleagues who have helped me to understand the various fields of study that I incorporate into this thesis. Specifically