Chapter 2 Contract law across legal traditions
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Comparative contract law is a valuable undertaking because it allows for a better understanding of one’s own law. This chapter compares some of the important differences between the common and civil law traditions. It examines what has been called the common-civil law divide and explains whether the differences are substantive in nature or due to the use of different terminology. It also examines recent convergence between the two traditions in areas such as good faith, specific performance, enforceability of penalties, and precontractual liability, as well as the civil law’s influence on common law. It also explores the convergence of international contract law by briefly comparing the civil, common law and Uniform Commercial Code, and international sales law (CISG).

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