School of International Development -UEA: Behavioural and experimental development economics

Behavioural economics is having a profound impact on the economics discipline. Yet its impact on development economics remains modest. The overwhelming evidence that economic actors do not always behave the way standard economic models assume also has strong implications for understanding the process of economic development. The theme group combines insights from development economics with those from other social sciences like psychology, sociology and anthropology to investigate a range of issues.  Some of the topics investigated in past and current research are risk preferences, workplace norms, motivation, intrahousehold allocation norms, trust among kinship, envy, and our research makes use of laboratory and field experiments, as well as randomized policy interventions. 

desresnews@uea.ac.uk
Tel: + 44 1603 592323

In addition to writing papers, some jointly with world-renowned authorities, we are actively involved in current research projects that will contribute to the emerging field of behavioural development economics. We are also involved in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level, such as the MA in Development Economics.

We work closely with other members of the Centre for Behavioural and Experimental Social Sciences (CBESS) at the Social Science Faculty and with the School of Economics, one of the leading economics departments for the study of behavioural economics.  
 

Bereket Kebede is Senior Lecturer in Economics (DEV) and is currently working on cross-cultural differences in intra-household allocation norms in Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Uganda; envy, money-burning and agricultural productivity in Ethiopia; and risk behaviour and location choice of fishermen in Britain.

Pieter Serneels is Senior Lecturer in Economics (DEV) and working on behavioural and labour issues in low income countries, using behavioral games combined with surveys, as well as randomized interventions. Topics include health and education service delivery, the role of aspirations for education and poverty; and whether survey results depend on the survey method used.

Marcela Tarazona Gomez is Senior Research Fellow in Economics (DEV/ODG) on experimental and environmental economics. Her research focuses on how individuals deal with risk and assesses the policy implications

Arjan Verschoor is Reader in Economics (DEV) and working on experimental investigations of risk attitudes among small farmers in Uganda, Ethiopia and India, of the value of kinship ties among the Bagisu in Uganda, and of intra-household allocation norms in Uganda, India, Ethiopia and Nigeria.

Research collaborators

Tim Daw, Lecturer in Natural Resources, School of International Development, University of East Anglia

Shaun Hargreaves Heap, Professor of Economics, School of Economics, University of East Anglia

Glenn W. Harrison, Professor of Economics, University of Central Florida

Steve Humphrey, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Nottingham

Vegard Iversen, Honorary Fellow, Institute for Development Policy Management, University of Manchester

Cecile Jackson, Professor Development Studies, School of International Development, University of East Anglia

Adrian Martin, Senior Lecturer in Rural Development, School of International Development, University of East Anglia

Shawn McGuire, Senior Lecturer in Natural Resources, School of International Development, University of East Anglia

Paul Mosley, Professor of Economics, University of Sheffield

Alistair Munro, Professor of Economics, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan

Nitya Rao, Senior Lecturer in Gender Analysis and Development, School of International Development, University of East Anglia

Daniel Zizzo, Professor of Economics, School of Economics, University of East Anglia

Current and recent postgraduate researchers

Kirsten Abernethy, ‘Why do Fishers Fish Where They Fish?’