This well-documented book discusses the power and limitations of class actions with insights and analysis from a panel of distinguished scholars. It pays special attention to the introduction and the applicability of such a legal device in European civil law countries. The book offers a broad legal and economic investigation, drawing insights from US judicial experience and giving a rigorous discussion of both the philosophical and constitutional aspects and the economic mechanisms and incentives set up by class actions. The Law and Economics of Class Actions in Europe will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of all those interested in the function of class action litigation for promoting justice and efficiency. In particular, it will benefit graduate and postgraduate students, researchers and academics in law, economics, and law and economics, policy makers, judges and attorneys. Contributors: J.G. Backhaus, G. Calabresi, A. Cassone, M.S. Cenini, B. Deffains, F. Denozza, N. Garoupa, A. Gidi, F. Gomez, M.F. Gouveia, S. Harnay, S. Issacharoff, E. Langlais, J. Luther, A. Marciano, G.P. Miller, F. Parisi, G.B. Ramello, L. Sacconi, M.I. Saez, F.M. Scherer, L. Toffoletti, T.S. Ulen, M. Valimaki