Sheheryar Banuri

Dr. Sheheryar Banuri is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of East Anglia and a By-Fellow, Dean of College, and Tutor at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge. He specializes in behavioral development economics, focusing on public service motivation, bias measurement, and gender-based discrimination. His expertise spans incentive design, governance, and experimental methods in lab and field settings.

He holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy from the University of Texas (2011), alongside an M.S. in Applied Economics (2008) and a B.S. in Economics and Finance (2005). His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through research on pro-poor policies, healthcare access, and anti-corruption frameworks.

Banuri’s research has been published in leading journals across Economics, Computer Science, Medicine, and Psychology. He co-authored the World Bank’s 2015 World Development Report and authored The Decisive Mind (shortlisted for a behavioral science award). His current projects explore democratic institutions, election uncertainty, and the impact of religion on financial decisions.

• Awards: Shortlisted for Best Behavioural Science Book Award (2023), Co-author of World Development Report 2015
• Consulting: Advises multilateral organizations on policy design and behavioral science applications.

His recent articles analyze gaming incentives, election uncertainty, healthcare discrimination, and the role of religion in investment decisions. These studies highlight his interdisciplinary approach to addressing global challenges through behavioral insights.