Dr Manu Savani
Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Public Policy

Summary

My research uses mixed method experiments to answer questions about health and political behaviours. I am interested in behavioural biases and 'nudges' that might bring about better outcomes for people. 

Prior to my PhD, I was an economist at the UK Government's Department for International Development over 2003-2012. I held roles covering a range of countries (Afghanistan, Burundi, Malawi and Somalia) and policy issues (pro-poor growth, HIV and AIDS, conflict and development, and value for money in aid spending). More recently, I was a Global Impact Evaluation Adviser for Oxfam GB, managing evaluations for the Gendered Enterprise and Markets project in Zambia and Bangladesh using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods in the field.

Read about my work on:

• Covid-19 vaccination choices and attitudes across the G7, funded by the British Academy
• Commitment devices, and why nudges might fail
• Commitment devices and health behaviour change
• Whether people prefer to be 'nudged' or 'shoved' in a pandemic
• Why you should pre-register your research, and how easy it is to do

Qualifications

I was awarded my PhD in 2017 from UCL’s Department of Political Science. I hold a First from the University of Oxford in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (St Anne’s College), and an MSc in Development Economics (Magdalen College). 

Responsibility

Senior Tutor for Politics and History at Brunel.

Associate Editor for Political Studies Review.