The LEPC is a flagship initiative, designed to bring together leading voices in Law, Economics, and Public Policy to engage with complex, real-world challenges in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary manner.
History
The Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET) launched the Law, Economics, and Policy Conference (LEPC) in India in 2016. The inaugural conference was held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, and was formally opened by Mr. Arun Jaitley, the then Minister of Finance, Government of India, and Mr. K. K. Venugopal, the Attorney General for India.
2016–2018
In collaboration with the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), INET organized the first three editions of LEPC in 2016, 2017, and 2018 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Each conference followed a two-and-a-half-day format, fostering rich interdisciplinary discussions on themes at the intersection of law, economics, and public policy.
2016
LEPC I: Integrating Law, Economics, & Policy for Institutional Reform in India
The inaugural Law, Economics, and Policy Conference, held in September 2016, marked the first major platform in India to bring together academics, policymakers, and practitioners for interdisciplinary dialogue.
The conference opened with a keynote address by the Honourable Minister of Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley, and an inaugural lecture on “Judicial and Court Reform in India” by Mr. K. K. Venugopal, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India. Over two days, the event featured paper presentations and panel discussions on themes such as the legal framework for privacy, network effects in online business, judicial appointments, and policy innovation at the Unique Identification Authority of India. Discussions extended to contract theory and bankruptcy, constitutional law, electoral behaviour, and regulatory assessment systems, complemented by panels examining state capacity, professional regulation, and law–finance challenges in developing economies.
2017
LEPC II: Law, Policy, and Institutional Change
The second Law, Economics, and Policy Conference (LEPC), held in December 2017, expanded on the success of its first edition by engaging a wider community of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners.
Inaugurated by Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, the two-day event featured eight panels addressing key issues in India’s policy landscape, including health systems, professional regulation, air pollution, and bankruptcy reform. Retd. Justice B. N. Srikrishna delivered a keynote on the Rule of Law, followed by discussions on technology policy, land market reforms, and the Regulation of Real Estate Act. The second day examined judicial efficiency, institutional reform, macroeconomic and financial systems, crime victimisation, and regulatory design.
2018
LEPC III: Health
The third edition of the Law, Economics, and Policy Conference (LEPC), held in November 2018, focused on the theme of health in light of India’s announcement of the Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM).
Introduced in the 2018 budget with an allocation of ₹10,490 crore for its initial two years, the AB-NHPM scheme aims to cover over 100 million poor and vulnerable households, making it the world’s largest government-funded healthcare program. Recognizing that public health is deeply shaped by the intersections of law, economics, and policy, the 2018 conference explored these interconnections to advance understanding of institutional design and governance within India’s evolving health system.
2021–Present
2021
LEPC IV
Due to the Pandemic, INET hosted LEPC IV as a virtual series of three thematic capsules.
The fourth edition of the Law, Economics, and Policy Conference (LEPC), held virtually in 2021, introduced a multi-capsule format to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on India’s key policy challenges.
Organized by the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET), New York, the series addressed themes such as India’s strategic response to China, reforms in justice delivery, and pathways to decarbonization through market-based approaches. By bringing together experts from law, economics, and public policy, LEPC 4 aimed to generate holistic perspectives on governance, institutional reform, and sustainable development in a changing global context.
- Capsule 1 (April 22, 2021): A discussion on India–China relations
- Capsule 2 (August 12, 2021): Justice Delivery: New Frontiers
- Capsule 3 (December 10, 2021): The Path for India’s Climate Transition
2022
LEPC V: India: The Path to Sustained Growth for the Next Decade
The fifth edition of the Law, Economics, and Policy Conference (LEPC), held at FLAME University in November 2022, centered on the theme “India: The Path to Sustained Growth for the Next Decade.”
Building on earlier editions, LEPC V brought together leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to examine the institutional foundations necessary for long-term, inclusive economic growth in India. Discussions explored critical themes such as the rule of law, state capacity, labour and gender participation, land and property markets, technology regulation, and the decarbonisation of the energy sector. By integrating insights from law, economics, and public policy, the conference sought to identify the structural reforms required to strengthen governance, enhance market efficiency, and ensure equitable growth in the decade ahead.
2023–2024
LEPC VI: Ideas for Building the Future
The sixth Law, Economics, and Policy Conference (LEPC VI), to be held in 2024 at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE), Pune, focuses on the intersection of climate change, technology, and growth.
As India moves toward a net-zero future, the conference will explore strategies for combining rapid decarbonization with sustained economic expansion. It will examine how technological innovation can drive low-carbon transitions, strengthen state capacity, and enhance India’s competitiveness in the global IT sector, highlighting the legal and policy frameworks needed for a sustainable, technology-led growth model.
2025
LEPC VII: Growth Strategy in the States
LEPC VII will be held in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka, ISEC, XKDR Forum, AP & Partners, and University of Cambridge. This edition will focus on the Growth Strategy in the States of India.
The event will bring together leading thinkers, practitioners, and policymakers to analyze the drivers behind this sub national success, and to chart actionable pathways for the future. Each session outlined explores a foundational dimension of India’s growth story, with attention to both policy diagnosis and on-the-ground innovation (more here)
