This volume investigates how the principles of economic analysis can be applied to understand the development and function of Roman legal institutions. The authors, Dennis P. Kehoe and Giuseppe Dari-Mattiacci, utilize a framework of institutional economics to analyze how Roman law evolved to address transaction costs, property rights, and organizational efficiency. By bridging the gap between classical legal scholarship and modern economic theory, the text provides a systematic evaluation of how legal rules shaped the Roman economy.

Scholars and legal historians frequently cite this work for its rigorous application of economic methodology to classical antiquity. Experts highlight the text as a significant contribution to the field of law and economics, noting its utility for researchers interested in the intersection of historical legal systems and modern economic theory.