Introduction

The Introduction starts by discussing the history of Empirical Legal Studies (ELS). It explains how the editors came about compiling this book. It talks about interest in empirical legal research and how it is not confimed to the United States, the UK or common law countries. Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Israel, Russia, and Japan are mentioned. This book aims to provide succinct discussions and analyses of debates, controversies, methods, and trends in scholarship that are original and searching but also easily accessible. The Introduction goes on to explain the perspective taken and coverage given in this book.