List of contributors; General editors' preface; Preface; List of abbreviations; Part I. Introduction and Context: 1. Introduction: an approach to the issues and doctrines relating to unexpected circumstances Ewoud Honduis and Hans Christoph Grigoleit; 2. Legal history Andreas Thier; 3. Law and economics: the comparative law and economics of frustration in contracts Marta Cenini, Barbara Luppi and Francesco Parisi; Part II. Overview: 4. Overview: concepts dealing with unexpected circumstances; Part III. The Case Studies Ewoud Honduis and Hans Christoph Grigoleit: 5. Questionnaire; 6. The case studies; Part IV. General Comparative Remarks: 7. General comparative remarks: converging tendencies, remaining differences and the unsolved mystery of adjustment Ewoud Honduis and Hans Christoph Grigoleit; Appendix. Some texts on change of circumstances; Selected bibliography; Index.

A comparative exploration of whether unexpected circumstances can 'open up' contracts.