Party autonomy and freedom of contract are fundamental values of our private law system. They grant individuals the freedom to assert their subjective will over objective reason and external values. However, does and should private law also pursue an overarching purpose?

The CRCL contributes to the identification of legitimate uses of contract law for regulatory purposes. The primary focus is on welfare goals, including optimal resource utilization, sustainability, prohibition of discrimination, protection of the vulnerable, prevention of over-indebtedness, and the availability of affordable housing.

Given that legal scholarship lacks its own tool-set for legal impact analyses, CRCL makes use of (behavioral) economic methods. Furthermore, it aims to assess findings derived from empirical legal research regarding the impact of legal norms on individuals' choices and behavior.

Researchers from various disciplines collaborate at the CRCL, introducing diverse areas of expertise. In addition to jointly pursued research projects, the center offers education opportunities and provides advisory support to regulators.