The Mind and Behaviour Research Group brings together economists, psychiatrists, and psychologists based at the University of Oxford as part of the Centre for the Study of African Economies. Our aim is to investigate the psychological impact of living in poverty and use findings to improve policy programmes.
Build body of evidence
Conduct rigorous research on how psychology shapes economic decision-making.
Share research methods
Provide access to psychological measures and instruments to aid future research.
Talk to policymakers
Spark new policy conversations on using behaviour science in anti-poverty programmes.
Our research in the news
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South Africa’s poverty relief grant should be increased rather than paid to be more people – economists explain why
Kate Orkin et al.
The Conversation Africa, 03 December 2024
The Blavatnik School of Government has announced they are offering a new studentship for DPhil doing quantitative economic research on urban labour markets in Africa, supervised by the MBRG's Kate Orkin.
Apply by 09 January 2025
Lead of the MBRG Kate Orkin talks to CSAE Director Stefan Dercon about the work behind the ESRC Outstanding Public Policy Impact Award 2023 on with cash transfers grants in South Africa during the Covid-19 Pandemic in episode nine of the CSAE Research Podcasts series.
You can listen to the conversation via the University of Oxford Podcasts or Apple Podcasts, or watch the discussion on the CSAE YouTube channel.
The safety and security of our staff and research partners remains our number one priority as we continue to adjust our research work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While fieldwork for ongoing projects has been temporarily suspended, we are still busy working at home thinking how best to carry on our research and apply our insights to the unique challenges COVID-19 poses
For further information on our contribution to the COVID-19 response including a new policy series and media round up, please click below.