Catrien Bijleveld

This open access book shows how governments can motivate companies to make a positive impact on society and why this is necessary in light of today’s pressing social, economic and environmental challenges and transitions. It shows obstacles companies face in conducting socially responsible business. Focusing on government-business relations in the Netherlands, the book also exposes key policy bottlenecks: the tendency of the Dutch government to hold on to the status quo and shield incumbent firms through tax breaks and lax enforcement. There is a real risk of policies that pamper business: it hampers companies that offer societal innovations for instance for health, education or the labour market. We also show how policies can better capitalise on the innovative qualities of entrepreneurship. Effective government policy makes it worthwhile for companies to alter their business model so that their products, services and production processes benefit society. Our recommendations address the role of government, consumers, financiers and companies themselves. While this work focuses on the Netherlands, it tackles questions that countries face worldwide on how to minimise harmful business conduct and maximise good business solutions. This makes the book broadly relevant to policy makers, business leaders and researchers grappling with the impact of business on society today.

Research Methods for Empirical Legal Studies gives an overview of methods for empirical legal research. It begins with general methodological issues, such as reliability and validity as well as research ethics. Subsequently, the book discusses data collection: sampling, interviewing, observation and survey instruments, and research design. Then, data analysis methods are introduced, for qualitative as well as quantitative data. In separate chapters, statistical testing and multivariate analysis are explained. Each chapter ends with questions on key issues. Using a minimum of formulas, the text gives numerous examples to facilitate comprehension of the various methodologies. A final chapter showcases three worked examples on labour law, liability law and sentencing, that together cover the scope of qualitative and quantitative research methods for empirical legal studies. Catrien Bijleveld is a research methodologist and a lawyer. She is professor of Research Methods in Empirical Legal Studies and Criminology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Conflicts and International Crimes: an Introduction to Research Methods gives an overview of basic research methods and statistics for the analysis of international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. After an introduction to general social science research methodology, it discusses particularities of criminological research as well as tailored techniques for criminology, such as victim surveys and randomized response techniques. Next it discusses specific techniques for assessing the prevalence of international crimes, borrowing from epidemiology, biology and social science/criminology. Methods for the analysis of the etiology and responses to international crimes are illustrated, as well as general social science and tailored methods for the analysis of the impact of conflicts. The book uses a minimum of formulas and many examples from well-known recent conflicts in which atrocities were committed, such as Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and Darfur, as well as from more distant conflicts. It is geared towards students as well as social science and legal scholars studying international crimes and their aftermath.