Social Benefits of ADR
Social Benefits of ADR
Social Benefits of ADR
Elton Bonmann
Abstract: The first part of this paper shows that solving social
conflicts through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) makes
society economically and socially better-off than solving prob-
lems through the judicial system. The second part of this work
shows how the Rule of Law can be enhanced by the use of ADR
and how these two institutions interact and reciprocally enhance
each other. The effects of the reciprocal relationship between
rule of law and ADR are analyzed through an economic ap-
proach. The research was done using deductive methodology
and bibliographic exploration.
INTRODUCTION
E
xcess or excessive judicial litigation has been con-
sidered an issue of general concern to mostly
every nation in recent decades. This problem is
more significant for some nations than for others,
and sometimes the biggest problems are in places
one would not expect.
Take Japan as an example. The ‘land of the rising sun’ is
well known as a country “that does not litigate”1, but in 2008
2,372.84 new civil and family suits per 100,000 population were
filed2. England and Wales courts received, in 2009, 3,889.05
new civil and family suits also per 100,000 population. On the
same trend, in 2009, 2,271.10 proceedings per 100,000 popula-
tion were filed in Canada. France’s courts received, in 2006,
3,100.57 new lawsuits per 100,000 population. In the United
States, in 2007, were filed 7,925.63 per 100,000 population. And
finally, in Brazil, the litigation champion of this list, in 2009
9,974.60 new civil and family suits per 100,000 population3
1
See: Haley, John (1978). The Myth of the Reluctant Litigant. 4 J. JAPANESE STUD.
359, 389. ("Few misconceptions about Japan have been more widespread or as perni-
cious as the myth of the special reluctance of the Japanese to litigate.").
2
We present statistics related to population rather than absolute numbers, because we
believe this kind of comparison better represents the level of litigation.
3
The methodology, and even some data, used to achieve these rates were similar to
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2243_
were filed.
This growth in litigation represents an increase of
government expenses (as well as an increase in court backlog)
and, as a response to that problem, policy makers from countries
with high rates of litigation have in the last decades created pol-
icies and laws intended at controlling or at least decreasing rates
of judicial litigation.
A not so recent idea is that this problem (the increase in
litigation and associated increase in expenses and backlog) can
be solved through the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution
(ADR) mechanisms, which, put in a simple way, can be thought
of as ways of solving social disputes other than the use of the
Judicial system.
While the idea that ADR may solve the problem of over-
burdened courts is generally accepted by most people, some
scholars claim the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution should
not be a public policy goal, because these alternative ways of
solving conflicts could create “social unfairness” or even in-
crease the rates of litigation in long term4.
On the other hand, other authors, favorable to ADR, af-
firm that to increase the usage rates of these alternative ways of
solving conflicts it is necessary to change the “litigation cul-
ture”5 of a country. There is also extensive literature that
those used by Ramseyer and Rasmusen (2010). However, here the rates of litigation
were based in all the commenced civil and family law cases, not just civil cases. For
the United States data it was considered civil litigation at Federal level. For England
and Wales we considered the data from private law suits involving children, dissolu-
tion of marriage, nullity of marriage and judicial separation. For Brazil, which has a
classification of jurisdiction similar to France, labor issues were considered as civil
cases, like everywhere else. The annex I shows in more detail the data and sources
from which we extracted data.
4
These two ideas are well approached by Owen Fiss (1984) in his classical article
“Against settlement”. Also, Wayne Brazil (1998) express the same concern to ADR:
“Some judges and judicial administrators, for example, might be attracted to ADR
only or primarily as docket reduction tool, posing serious threats to fairness or other
values that ADR should be promoting”.
5
Or even the way how law has been taught at law schools. See Alex Zamboni´s
_2244________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
10
If the controversy arises out of a voluntary transaction, then it is a transaction cost;
if it arises out of a non-voluntary issue, such as a tort, it is then a cost of other nature,
but nevertheless a cost.
11
On the classic article “Bargain in the Shadow of Law”.
12
Taking apart arbitration, which can be thought of as “litigation with specialized
judges and with a faster procedure”, and though it is defended that arbitration presents
a better cost-benefit than litigation in the long term, the other forms of ADR disregard
discovery, which is, indeed, the most expensive part of any judicial dispute (see all
this idea at: Folberg; Golann; Stipanowich; Kloppenberg (2016). Resolving Disputes:
Theory, Practice, and Law. 3th Ed. Aspen Publisher. p. 547-552) and Timm (2017).
_2246________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
disputes13.
However, the literature supporting the advantages of
ADR usually analyzes only the advantages for the parties on the
dispute. Very few of the works we consulted were concerned
with demonstrating and measuring whether society would be
economically and socially better-off using ADR in comparison
to judicial litigation14. It is fair to assume that parties to the con-
troversy benefit from the use of ADR, but the question if society
also benefits from the use of ADR has not been fully answered.
For example: If a party to the conflict (or parties, if there
is settlement) decide(s), after the resolution of a dispute, to go
out to celebrate its/their “victory” and purchase a car that costs
$50.000,00, is society benefiting15? Apparently not, because if
the parties had solved their dispute through litigation, there
would still be money for new cars purchases – this time by the
lawyers16 instead of the parties themselves. Intuitively, one
could think that the use of ADR would be neutral to society, a
‘zero-sum game’. Society would not be any better or worse-off
with either the use of ADR or of the Judicial system.
We believe that this conclusion is wrong. Even though
the example above may reasonably create the idea that the out-
come would be socially neutral, ADR actually makes society
better-off, because if we consider that the judicial system
13
To know more about the enhancement of ADR in U.S., see: Galanter, Marc (2004).
The Vanishing Trial: An Examination of Trials and Related Matters in Federal and
State Courts. Journal of Empirical Studies. V. 1. Issue 3. See also: Judicial Council
of California/Administrative Office of the Courts (2004). Evaluation of the Early Me-
diation Pilot Programs.
14
See the question, “would society be better-off or worse-off through ADR?” at: Fol-
berg; Golann; Stipanowich; Kloppenberg (2016). op. cit. p. 14.
15
Assume that the joint benefit (compared to litigation) is $ 50.000,00.
16
In real world the trial expenses are shared with agents of justice and others, such as
experts brought in trial, for example. In the example above, we opted to use only the
attorneys to simplify the idea that expenses incurred by someone in trial are just a
typical ‘opportunity cost’, in a sense that they are being paid to these agents of Justice
and not used elsewhere (the opportunity). In the example lawyers’ fee in litigation are
the exact same value saved by the use of ADR.
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2247_
represents a high transaction cost, the shift from the judicial lit-
igation to ADR would lower the opportunity cost of solving dis-
putes17. This means a twofold benefit. First, ADR use is better
because ADR adjudicators are better prepared to do their jobs
(more technical in arbitration, more skilled in other techniques)
and are not (in most cases) bound by the rules of federal civil
procedure. Judiciary cannot compete or improve (at least in Bra-
zil), because judges are bound to current rules of civil procedure,
but also due to the generalistic nature of their progression in the
career – it is hard to find specialization – and due to the current
process of admission of new judges.
Second, if the wealth saved remains with the parties, es-
pecially if they’re business entities, their use of the savings will
probably be more efficient that if the corresponding amount was
attributed to the state (court fees) or to agents of the court (liti-
gation expenses).These savings can be put to productive uses
that lead to creation of new products and improvement of exist-
ing ones. In other words, economic growth and society’s quality
of life would be increased.
To understand this statement, the reader needs to have a
general idea of what constitutes the wealth of a society. Because
the wealth of a society could be measured in diverse ways, we
opted to use a simple measure - Gross Domestic Production
(GDP)18. We will demonstrate what composes GDP, how it is
increased by the creation of new and diverse products 19, what is
17
See Luciano Benetti Timm. Análise econômica da arbitragem.
https://lawle2014.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/timm-10042016-aed-da-arbitragem-
livro-tarcicc81sio-lmj.pdf
18
To know more about GDP, see: Kuznets, Simon (1934). National Income, 1929-32.
National Bureau of Economic Research. Strictly defined, GDP is the sum of market
values of all goods and services consumed and invested in an economy during a period
of time.
19
For a deeper analysis about the enhancement of economic growth through new
products creation, see: Jorgenson, Dale; Ho, Mun; Samuels, Jon (2014). Long-Term
Estimates of U.S. Productivity and Growth. See also: Ayres Robert (1989). Techno-
logical Transformation and Long Waves. International Institute for Applied Systems
Analysis.
_2248________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
quality of life (and also how to enhance and diminish it), what
are the transaction costs20 that lower GDP and how judicial liti-
gation and ADR are related to all these subjects. We opted to
demonstrate these concepts with the use of some simple exam-
ples.
We start by explaining Gross Domestic Production
(GDP) and how it increases or decreases. We use a very closed
and small economy to make the example easier. Suppose a na-
tion (x) has a total of 4 people that only grow and produce pota-
toes and each person consumes only 1 potato in a time (y) (as-
sume they could consume more things if those were different
from potatoes21), but produces 2 potatoes on this nation at the
same time (y). The total production of this nation is 8 potatoes,
of which 4 would be consumed and other 4 would be stocked.
GDP is generally thought of as the sum of everything
produced by a nation, but that is not fully correct. GDP is actu-
ally measured by the sum of all things consumed and invested22
by national and international players, including government23.
Therefore, because the example here is related to a closed nation
and the potatoes stocked cannot be consumed or invested (no
one in this country wants to consume more potatoes), the GDP
of the nation (x) would be only 4 potatoes.
GDP also increases when new products are created and
offered in the market. Suppose now that instead of having 4 per-
sons producing only potatoes (2 potatoes each), one of these
20
See the general idea of transaction costs at: Coase, Ronald (1960). The problem of
Social Costs. The Journal of Law and Economics.
21
The idea of “the more you have regarding to something, the less you want it, and
the less you have regarding to something, the more you want it”, well illustrated in
the example by a person that is saturated with potatoes, but could consume other
things, is in accordance with utilitarian theory. See: Fishburn, Peter (1970). Utility
Theory for Decision Making. John Wiley & Sons. Inc.
22
Since it is the consumption of things to create and upkeep capital goods or income
producing properties.
23
See the summary of the GDP formula at: Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.bri-
tannica.com/topic/gross-domestic-product. Retrieved on 28th June. And the original
formula at the report cited above: Simon (1934).
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2249_
24
Same as the idea discussed on the footnote 16.
25
Examples of abstract definitions for quality of life are: Human Development Index
and World Happiness Report. See those respectively at: United Nation Development
Program and Helliwell, Layard, & Sachs (2018).
26
The objective definition of quality of life is related to the quantity of GDP per capital
of a nation, in other words, the quantity and quality of things consumed. The more
you consume, better your quality of life is.
_2250________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
27
The notion of utility used in this work does not refer to the utilitarian approach.
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2251_
28
Though it was considered here that the peacekeeper service is a transaction cost,
some authors from economics claims that this type of work could be also considered
a rent-seeking activity. See for example: Murphy, Kevin; Shleifer, Andrei; Vishny,
Robert (1991). The allocation of Talent: Implications for Growth. The Quarterly Jour-
nal of Economics. V. 106. N. 2. And a general discussion on rent-seeking activities
and transaction costs at: Murshed, S. (2001). Transaction Costs Politics, Institution
for commitment of Rent-Seeking. UNU World Institute for Development Economics
Research (UNU/WIDER).
29
Just like the potato producers.
30
Assume that each potato producer has produced only 2 potatoes.
_2252________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
peacekeepers, and both the former thief and the former peace-
keeper would be free (and need) to produce something of value.
The production surplus, if existing, could be exchanged with
others that also had resources stocked.
Likewise, if a person spends more and more his “stocks”
(his savings) on things of a nature similar to a peacekeeper’s ser-
vices (transaction costs), society will see a reduction on eco-
nomic growth and quality of life. A nation with a high number
of people offering services similar to the “peacekeeper” is
worse-off than one that does not have the need for such ser-
vices31, not only because of the negative aspects of the thief’s
‘products’, but because neither thief nor peacekeeper are actu-
ally producing things that maximize the wealth of society 32.
What does all of the above have to do with ADR? A lot,
and we can now draw a parallel toward the judicial system and
explain our thesis regarding ADR and its social benefits.
First, we can draw an analogy: peacekeeper services are
of a similar nature to services offered by lawyers, prosecutors,
clerks, judges, etc. (the judicial system), services that depend on
the existence of ‘wrongdoers’33. Because agents of justice only
work to compensate harm to others, enforce breached contracts
and things of the like, they are not adding wealth to society (in
fairness, they are preventing wealth loss, but that is second best
to adding wealth).
Second, if it is possible to reduce the costs (not only fi-
nancial ones) of using the judicial system by solving disputes in
a less bureaucratic and efficient way (ADR), society will actu-
ally be “better-off”, because the decrease on money spent
31
And not only because of the absolute number, but because of the need for the ser-
vices provided.
32
They are just taking part of the production of others, whether voluntarily (peace-
keeper) or not (thief).
33
The idea of wrongdoer applies not only to persons that committed crimes, but, also
include ones that have not fulfilled its contractual obligations or others that violate
third party’s rights and privacy.
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2253_
40
At the time Cooter wrote his paper, the rule 68 of the United States Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure, which is a copy of the alluded rule from California, was not en-
acted yet. That rule states as follows (https://www.federalrulesofcivilproce-
dure.org/frcp/title-viii-provisional-and-final-remedies/rule-68-offer-of-judgment/,
access in 14/11/2019):
Rule 68 – Offer of Judgment
(a) Making an Offer; Judgment on an Accepted Offer. At least 14 days before the date
set for trial, a party defending against a claim may serve on an opposing party an offer
to allow judgment on specified terms, with the costs then accrued. If, within 14 days
after being served, the opposing party serves written notice accepting the offer, either
party may then file the offer and notice of acceptance, plus proof of service. The clerk
must then enter judgment.
(b) Unaccepted Offer. An unaccepted offer is considered withdrawn, but it does not
preclude a later offer. Evidence of an unaccepted offer is not admissible except in a
proceeding to determine costs.
(c) Offer After Liability is Determined. When one party’s liability to another has been
determined but the extent of liability remains to be determined by further proceedings,
the party held liable may make an offer of judgment. It must be served within a rea-
sonable time—but at least 14 days—before the date set for a hearing to determine the
extent of liability.
(d) Paying Costs After an Unaccepted Offer. If the judgment that the offeree finally
obtains is not more favorable than the unaccepted offer, the offeree must pay the costs
incurred after the offer was made.
_2256________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
are already aware and agree with the notion that when the rule
of law is well established, reasonably stable and clear 43, parties
will know (or are more likely to know) the expected outcome of
the controversy and will bargain to a solution close to the one
predicted by the rule. However, if the rule of law is not clear, the
variance in rules will mean a variance in the likely outcomes,
which, when framed by human biases (such as I -plaintiff- will
receive more and I – defendant - will pay less: Overconfi-
dence44), will make the parties more likely to pursue a trial rather
than settlement45.
For example: assume that for a given labor accident type
(x) with the same (or very similar) consequences to the injured
party courts of the country award compensation for actual loss
of income equally but damages related to pain vary from
$10.000 to $60.000. In this case, the plaintiff will pursue com-
pensation and damages related to pain in a value close to
recovered by plaintiffs), the number of complaints one year after its publication (1968-
1969) spiked from 5,514 to 10,416. An interesting fact is that after this abrupt increase,
in 1970, the number of deaths by traffic accidents and complaints filed, which were
constantly increasing since 1964, started to decrease. Deaths from traffic accidents
dropped from 21,535 in 1970 to approximately 12,000 in 1978 and kept constant until
1983 (where the data of his research ends). On the other hand, the number of com-
plaints, which reached its peak at 11,620 in 1970, dropped every year to its lower level
in 1983 with 3,235. In addition, the author of that work still compares this situation to
other kinds of civil suits, showing that the decrease in traffic accident litigation was
way bigger than any other sphere of civil litigation.
43
Classical authors that made such claim include Landes (1971) and Posner (1973).
Also, for a more specific discussion on the idea that the clearer is the rule of law, the
bigger is the rates of settlement, see: Albiston, Catherine (1991). The rule of law and
the Litigation Process: The paradox of Losing by Winning. Berkeley Law Scholarship
Repository. Also, the relative influence of any legal outcome and its dependence to
the effective communication of the result and its meaning (Galanter 1983). And the
difference in settlement rates when a matter is approached through written judicial
opinion or by confidentiality agreements and the dearth of information (Erlanger et
al. 1987). A discussion of this idea in Brazil, see Gico Jr. (2014).
44
See this cognitive bias at: Samson, A. (Ed.)(2017). The Behavioral Economics
Guide 2017 (with an introduction by Cass Sunstein). Retrieved from:
http://www.behavioraleconomics.com. p. 95.
45
See Bianca Bez Goulart, Análise econômica do litígio, Editora Jus Podium, 2019.
_2258________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
46
Assuming there are no more attractive alternatives for the defendant – like using his
money in an investment that will bring better results than the interest to be paid in
case of a court judgement.
47
BRASIL. LEI Nº 11.343, DE 23 DE AGOSTO DE 2006. Retrieved from:<
http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2004-2006/2006/lei/l11343.htm>
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2259_
48
BRASIL. DECRETO-LEI No 2.848, DE 7 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1940. Retrieved
from:< http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/decreto-lei/del2848compilado.htm>
49
STATE OF NEW YORK. New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law – PEN. Re-
trieved from:< http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article220.htm>
50
See a critical discussion over the stare decision at: Collier, Charles (1988). Prece-
dent and Legal Authority: A Critical History. UF Law School Repository.
_2260________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
51
Tetley, William (2000). Mixed Jurisdictions: Common Law v. Civil Law (Codified
and Uncodified). Louisiana Law Review. Volume 60. Number 3.
52
See: H. L. A. Hart, (1958). Positivism and the Separation of Law and Morals.
71 Harvard Law Review 593, 601-2.
53
See: Tim, Luciano (2014). Direito e Economia no Brasil. Atlas. 2 ed. p. 7.
54
See: William M. Landes & Richard A. Posner (1992). The Influence of Economics
on Law: A Quantitative Study. Chicago Unbound. An also: Kendall, Keith (2011).
The Use of Economic Analysis in Court Judgments: A Comparison between the
United States, Australia and New Zealand. Pacific Basin Law Journal, 28(2).
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2261_
R = [D + P(D)]
57
Consider that if plaintiff expects to recover at least 100 and defendant expects to
pay at most 200, then there´ll be a settlement (provided that defendant has resources
for paying the settlement) range between 100 and 200. If plaintiff expects to recover
100 but defendant expects to pay only 50, there´ll be no settlement.
58
This happens because people are generally risk averse, and since there is already an
established rule of law, the parties will know who is liable (different than the court
that needs to discover that), and then will tend to settle.
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2263_
settle, the parties will litigate this case to the end rather than
reach a settlement, because Plaintiff Va will accept values equal
or bigger than $5.000,00 (VA ≤ 5000) and defendant Vb will
settle only when the amount of the bid is equal or smaller than
$2.500,00.
When the costs of litigation are high, the probability of
settlement will be higher (tend to one59). When transaction costs
to litigate are low, the probability of settlement will be lower
(tend to zero). The same is true when the rule of law is stable
and predictable. The probability of parties to settle will tend to
one under a clear and stable rule of law. When the rule of law is
not clear, the probability of an agreement will tend to zero. This
can be expressed as follows60:
59
We assume for purposes of this simple model that both parties will incur in the same
costs. If costs are different, then the likelihood of settlement will be affected differ-
ently. There may be one party more prone to settlement, while the other may refrain
from it.
60
In the graph, 1 means something that will certainly happen and zero means some-
thing that will certainly not happen.
_2264________RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX I
Years of 2006, 2007 and 2009 100.000 per population
United States at State level (Civil) 5976.09
United States at Federal level (Civil) 90.32
United States at State level (Family) 1859.22
Total United States 7925.63
Japan (Civil) 1773
Japan (Family) 599.84
Total Japan 2372.84
France (Civil) 2429.47
France (Family) 671.09
Total France 3100.56
Canada (Civil) 1472.79
Canada (Family) 798.3
Total Canada 2271.09
England and Wales (Civil) 3401.81
England and Wales (Family) 487.28
Total England and Wales 3889.09
Brazil at State level (Civil and Family) 7242.17
Brazil at Labor law level 1488.32
Brazil at Federal level (Civil) 1244.07
Total Brazil 9974.56
RJLB, Ano 6 (2020), nº 4________2265_
REFERENCES