Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
It is probably not necessary for an economist to justify his temerity in addressing the Air Law Group of this Society on Licensing since I am here by invitation. But it is worth noting that a great deal of air law is, in fact, concerned with the economic regulation of the industry: the law is endeavouring to give effect to conclusions about how best to arrive at certain economic results.
I shall not discuss any details of the law relating to air transport licensing: I shall concern myself with the broad economic issues which underlie the law. I shall start from first principles and ask “Why should we regulate air transport?” and, if there are good reasons for so doing, “what are the essentials of a regulatory system?”.