Research projects

Find out about some of the ongoing research projects at the School. These may be core funded or externally funded, and range from extensive, long term collaborations requiring fieldwork and data analysis to more individual areas of work.

Research project
The history of UK public spending control 1993-2015

Investigating how, and how well, spending control worked.

Past projects

Research project
Establishing State Legitimacy and Effectiveness in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Societies

Exploring the role of norms, values, and narratives in establishing state legitimacy and the effective functioning of state organisations.

Research project
Empowering the Poor: The Behavioural and Social Foundations of Poverty Reduction, and Evolving the Role of Multilateral Responses

Analysis on how to incorporate behavioural science in the design of poverty reduction interventions.

Research project
Thin Political Markets and on the Organisation of Capitalism in Society

Examining the phenomenon of 'thin political markets'.

Research project
How shared back-office services affect English local government administration costs

Thomas Elston is working with Ruth Dixon on a project funded by the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust to look at how shared back-office services affect English local government administratio

Research project
Women’s Empowerment, Social Norms, and Violence Against Women and Girls

This project seeks to understand which groups of individuals should be targeted by interventions that seek to reduce rates of early and forced marriage – including through keeping girls in school –

Research project
Rethinking African Paths to Industrial Development (RAPID)

This project seeks to devise ways for African governments to foster the development of more productive industries.

Research project
Developing countries navigating global banking standards

Banks dominate the financial sectors of Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) and effective regulation is vital for financial stability and growth.

Research project
Cash Plus

Can a psychological intervention enhance the effectiveness of anti-poverty programmes such as cash transfers?

Research project
Co-designing dementia care to improve value

This new project is an action-research project in collaboration with the health and care services in Durham (UK), who make local decision on how resources are spent.