Fourth Conference on Law and Macroeconomics

About the conference

Date: 27 - 28 October 2021 (to be hosted virtually)

The role of law as an instrument of macroeconomic policy, and a means to providing social protection, through the Covid-19 pandemic has opened-up new and exciting research opportunities. As we edge towards recovery, what is the role of law in creating a macroeconomy appropriate for a post-pandemic world? 

We welcome submissions for an online virtual conference on October 27 and 28, 2021 that will continue to explore connections between law and macroeconomics. Papers may address the role of law, regulation, and institutions in:

1. Monetary policy, both conventional and unconventional, including how it is impacted by payments systems, eg, new platforms and technologies, as well as the effects and risks of the unwinding of QE;
2. Financial regulatory policy, both domestic and international, including its effect on the economy, and its role in crisis containment and resolution, access to capital and other aspects of financial inclusion; 
3. Fiscal policy, especially its role in mitigating the effects and frequency of economic downturns, including the respective roles of federal, state, and local governments. We are particularly interested in papers that explore the combination of expansionary fiscal policy and loose monetary policy;
4. Moderating recessions with other policy levers, including bankruptcy, contract, and property law; environmental, utility, and labor regulation; and investment and capital controls; 
5. ESG – which colations decides, how to implement it and what will it mean for investment;
6. Law and data – who’s data is it anyway?; 
7. Sovereign debt, debt relief and forgiveness, and the possible consequences;
8. Is the legal profession able to deliver for people in the twenty-fist century economy?
9. Legal strategies for reducing inequality, including policies affecting labor, competition, access to housing, healthcare, and other public services, as well as personal, corporate and public debt relief.

We hope to attract submissions from both legal scholars writing about macro-relevant topics and economists writing on subjects that would benefit from legal perspectives. Submissions from students and others not in tenure-track positions are especially welcomed. We also encourage submissions from all perspectives that may help illuminate the intersection between law and macroeconomics and inform action to mitigate the pain and uncertainty caused by the current economic downturn.

Event programme 

Co-hosts for the conference include in addition to the Bank of England and Queen Mary University of London (Professor Rosa Lastra, CCLS):

• Yale Law School (Professor Yair Listokin)
• Georgetown University Institute of International Economic Law (Professor Anna Gelpern)
• Cornell Law School (Professor Saule Omarova)
• Tulane Law School (Professor Adam Feibelman)
• Rebuilding Macroeconomics (Dr Angus Amstrong)