The research undertaken at the CSAE is both microeconomic and macroeconomic. This means that it looks at issues facing individuals, farmers, entrepreneurs or companies, as much as issues in relation to the overall economy such as inflation and exchange rate setting. The objective in developing these areas has been to build the research infrastructure that will allow researchers to pursue the CSAE's primary research objective – the production of excellent research geared to an improvement in Africa’s economic performance.

Centre staff participate in a wide range of activities within Africa, including data collection for both households and firms, training, and discussion with both the business and policymaking communities. The Centre also operates a programme of lunchtime seminars during term, and runs annual conferences aimed at its different user groups. Key data sets which the Centre has been responsible for collecting are also available on their website.

Several Blavatnik School staff members are also members of the CSAE, enhancing research collaboration, policy outreach and impact.

The Mind and Behaviour Research Group (MBRG) brings together economists, psychiatrists and psychologists based at the University of Oxford as part of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at the Blavatnik School of Government. Their aim is to investigate the psychological impact of living in poverty and use findings to improve policy programmes. Find out more about the MBRG.