O presente trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa que teve como objetivo a investigação sobre o possível desenvolvimento de uma nova teoria jurídica nos trabalhos vinculados a Law and Economics. A hipótese testada ainda inclui a concepção de que essa Teoria Econômica do Direito teria a eficiência como seu fundamento moral, atribuindo ao Direito a função de maximização da utilidade, riqueza ou bem-estar sociais. Para tanto, apresenta descrição sobre a maneira pela qual modelos e conceitos econômicos foram transformados em instrumentos metodológicos usados para descrever e fazer prescrições a respeito do conteúdo das regras jurídicas e de sua aplicação. Este estudo ainda explora os mecanismos sociais de produção e aplicação do Direito, a fim de verificar como suas características podem limitar essa função maximizadora atribuída pela Análise Econômica do Direito. Por fim, investiga-se quais recursos teóricos e retóricos tomaram utilizável pelo Direito o conceito puramente econômico da eficiência e o transformaram em um valor moral a guiar decisões jurídicas ou políticas. O consenso é, então, perquirido como o fundamento último sobre o qual se assentam a eficiência e a maximização como valores morais. / This paper is a product of a research which aimed to study the potential development of a new legal theory within the paper works written by those authors usually associated with the Law and Economies School. The hypothesis tested established the existence of an Economic Legal Theory that would be morally based on efficiency concepts and that assigned to the legal rules a function related to the maximization of social utility, wealth and welfare. In order to accomplish this task, this paper presents a description of how economic models and concepts were turned into methodological instruments to describe and make prescriptions about the legal rules dispositions and their application. Further, the research explores the social structures assigned to enact legal rules and those responsible for their enforcement, in order to verify how their qualifications are able to promote within the social rules efforts the function prescribed by the Economic Analysis of Law. At last, this paper explores the theoretical and rhetoric instruments that made possible the use of the purely economic concept of efficiency into a moral value claimed as an ideal guide of political and legal decisions. The consent is, then, tested as the final basis on which efficiency and maximization as moral principles lay on.

O presente trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa que teve como objetivo a investigação sobre o possível desenvolvimento de uma nova teoria jurídica nos trabalhos vinculados a Law and Economics. A hipótese testada ainda inclui a concepção de que essa Teoria Econômica do Direito teria a eficiência como seu fundamento moral, atribuindo ao Direito a função de maximização da utilidade, riqueza ou bem-estar sociais. Para tanto, apresenta descrição sobre a maneira pela qual modelos e conceitos econômicos foram transformados em instrumentos metodológicos usados para descrever e fazer prescrições a respeito do conteúdo das regras jurídicas e de sua aplicação. Este estudo ainda explora os mecanismos sociais de produção e aplicação do Direito, a fim de verificar como suas características podem limitar essa função maximizadora atribuída pela Análise Econômica do Direito. Por fim, investiga-se quais recursos teóricos e retóricos tomaram utilizável pelo Direito o conceito puramente econômico da eficiência e o transformaram em um valor moral a guiar decisões jurídicas ou políticas. O consenso é, então, perquirido como o fundamento último sobre o qual se assentam a eficiência e a maximização como valores morais. / This paper is a product of a research which aimed to study the potential development of a new legal theory within the paper works written by those authors usually associated with the Law and Economies School. The hypothesis tested established the existence of an Economic Legal Theory that would be morally based on efficiency concepts and that assigned to the legal rules a function related to the maximization of social utility, wealth and welfare. In order to accomplish this task, this paper presents a description of how economic models and concepts were turned into methodological instruments to describe and make prescriptions about the legal rules dispositions and their application. Further, the research explores the social structures assigned to enact legal rules and those responsible for their enforcement, in order to verify how their qualifications are able to promote within the social rules efforts the function prescribed by the Economic Analysis of Law. At last, this paper explores the theoretical and rhetoric instruments that made possible the use of the purely economic concept of efficiency into a moral value claimed as an ideal guide of political and legal decisions. The consent is, then, tested as the final basis on which efficiency and maximization as moral principles lay on.

Energy is the main driving force behind all human activities. Energy use is blamed for its contribution to greenhouse gas, environmental degradation among others. Energy efficiency has been identified as an important tool to address these issues. Recognising the important role of energy efficiency, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) introduced policy measures to address energy efficiency at both regional and national levels. South Africa (a member state of SADC) followed by introducing policies, legislation, tax incentives and voluntary measures such as SANS standards and ISO 50001 to address energy use via energy efficiency. The aim of this study is to assess South Africa’s framework pertaining to energy efficiency and determine whether they correspond to the SADC energy frameworks. In this study, it is indicated that energy efficiency does not have a universally acceptable definition. SADC’s frameworks pertaining to energy efficiency are quite vague compared to South Africa’s policy framework. South Africa’s policies, legal frameworks and voluntary instruments correspond with the SADC frameworks and even go beyond these frameworks. It is recommended that SADC’s frameworks should specify measures of attaining energy efficiency within its mandated tools, urge member states to develop legislation as well as voluntary measures as means of attaining energy efficiency. The South African Minister of Energy on the other hand, should fulfil the mandate of the Electricity Regulation Act and the National Energy Act by enacting regulations pertaining to energy efficiency. Incentives for the introduction of voluntary energy efficiency measures should also be developed. / LLM (Environmental law and governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Energy is the main driving force behind all human activities. Energy use is blamed for its contribution to greenhouse gas, environmental degradation among others. Energy efficiency has been identified as an important tool to address these issues. Recognising the important role of energy efficiency, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) introduced policy measures to address energy efficiency at both regional and national levels. South Africa (a member state of SADC) followed by introducing policies, legislation, tax incentives and voluntary measures such as SANS standards and ISO 50001 to address energy use via energy efficiency. The aim of this study is to assess South Africa’s framework pertaining to energy efficiency and determine whether they correspond to the SADC energy frameworks. In this study, it is indicated that energy efficiency does not have a universally acceptable definition. SADC’s frameworks pertaining to energy efficiency are quite vague compared to South Africa’s policy framework. South Africa’s policies, legal frameworks and voluntary instruments correspond with the SADC frameworks and even go beyond these frameworks. It is recommended that SADC’s frameworks should specify measures of attaining energy efficiency within its mandated tools, urge member states to develop legislation as well as voluntary measures as means of attaining energy efficiency. The South African Minister of Energy on the other hand, should fulfil the mandate of the Electricity Regulation Act and the National Energy Act by enacting regulations pertaining to energy efficiency. Incentives for the introduction of voluntary energy efficiency measures should also be developed. / LLM (Environmental law and governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Le débat maintenant ancien que mènent les juristes français autour de l'action de groupe est marqué par une contradiction importante : alors que les class actions américaines, systématiquement évoquées, semblent exercer une influence déterminante sur leurs réflexions, elles restent largement méconnues. Suscitant l'espoir autant que la crainte, l'exemple des class actions peut expliquer à la fois l'arrivée de l'action de groupe dans l'ordre juridique français, les hésitations législatives et doctrinales qui l'ont précédée et les défauts qui affectent tant les textes entrés en vigueur que ceux encore en projet. D'un côté, l'intérêt porté en France aux class actions est l'expression d"une insatisfaction à l'égard du droit français, particulièrement du droit de la responsabilité civile. Les class actions sont alors envisagées comme une solution possible à un problème donné, à savoir l'absence en droit français d'un outil efficace pour appréhender les situations dans lesquelles un grand nombre de personnes subit des dommages individuels rattachables à un fait unique (ou une série de faits identiques). De l'autre, le mécanisme sur lequel les class actions s'appuient suscite fréquemment la perplexité, voire l'hostilité. Reposant sur une présomption de consentement de la part des membres du groupe représentés (« opt-out »), elles seraient contraires aux règles traditionnelles de la procédure civile française, réputée éminemment individualiste. Le rôle central confié aux avocats américains encouragerait en outre les actions illégitimes sans bénéfice réel pour les personnes représentées. Dans cette perspective, un examen approfondi des conditions historiques dans lesquelles les class actions sont apparues aux États-Unis et des règles qui les encadrent, confronté à l'étude de l'ensemble des actions pour autrui existant en droit français, est le moyen de vérifier la légitimité des espoirs et des craintes qui structurent le débat français. Ses enseignements, nombreux, permettent de proposer une vue d'ensemble des principes cardinaux d'organisation des actions de groupe dans l'optique de la construction d'un régime efficace, quelle que soit la tradition juridique concernée. La pertinence de cette approche reste entière au regard des limites sérieuses qui caractérisent l'action de groupe introduite en France en 2014. En premier lieu, la comparaison des droits français et américain révèle la très grande diversité des schémas procéduraux envisageables, en fonction des demandes formulées dans le cadre de ces actions et des buts assignés à la procédure envisagée, qui dérivent eux-mêmes souvent des fonctions réparatrices, compensatoires ou punitives attribuées au droit de la responsabilité civile. En second lieu, il relativise le caractère exceptionnel de la présomption de consentement tout en confirmant que l'efficacité des actions de groupe dépend pour une large part des conditions dans lesquelles est défini le groupe de personnes qui subit les effets de la décision de fond rendue à l'issue de la procédure. En troisième lieu, il fait apparaître l'importance de la dimension économique de ces actions. Dans la mesure où elles permettent la défense des intérêts individuels d'autrui, elles exigent une prise en compte de la réalité des incitations et des moyens propres à chaque acteur de la procédure, notamment celui qui l'initie. / The French debate on collective actions is characterised by a central contradiction: while US class actions almost systematically serve as the starting point of discussions among French lawyers, they remain widely unknown to them. Being a reason for hope, admiration as well as fear, the American model of class actions can explain why the introduction of collective actions in French law was decided, why it was delayed for so long, and the many flaws of the resulting legislation.