Mind and Behaviour Research Group

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.

What we do

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

All news
The Conversation Africa Article

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

New Urban Labour Markets in Africa DPhil Scholarship

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

CSAE Research Podcasts Episode 9 on Cash Transfer Grants in South Africa

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.