Personal profile

Academic Background

1987-91 MSc Economics (cum laude), Erasmus University Rotterdam
1991-93 MSc Development Economics (cum laude), Erasmus University
1993-96 Economic consultant, SEOR Rotterdam
1996-2000 PhD Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam
2001-04 Research Officer, University of Sheffield
2004- School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia

Biography

Arjan is a behavioural development economist. His current research is on agricultural investment decisions in Uganda. Recent research includes intra-household allocation in India, Ethiopia, Uganda and Nigeria; and the effectiveness of international development aid. 

Career

 Before joining the School of International Development in 2004, Arjan worked as a Research Officer for the University of Sheffield on a DFID-funded project on pro-poor growth.

Key Research Interests

Experimental economics in developing countries; aid effectiveness; gender inequality; pro-poor growth.

DEV and UEA Research Groups: Behavioural and Experimental Development Economics; Centre for Behavioural and Experimental Social Science

Current research focuses on small farmers’ risk attitudes, their risk-sharing arrangements, and implications for agricultural investment and insurance decisions in eastern Uganda.

Key Responsibilities

Teaching Interests

PhD students

  • Lucy Njogu on building climate resilience in Kenyan aquaculture [current]
  • Manasa Sharma on building climate resilience in Indian agriculture [current]
  • Hugh Sinclair on microfinance [current]
  • Baimba Koroma on growth, human development and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa [current]
  • Janet Mwende Mutiso on sweet potato in Uganda [current]
  • Matthew Heaton on seed systems in Ethiopia and Uganda [current]
  • Joshua Hill on language use and cooperation in Uganda [current]
  • Harsh Vasani on hydropolitics in the Himalayas [completed 2023]
  • Ngukwase Surma on female empowerment in Nigeria [completed 2023]
  • Suvarna Pande on scarcity and risk attitudes [completed 2023]
  • Floris Burgers on education in Uganda [completed 2023]
  • Minjin Kim on mobile micro-finance [completed 2023]
  • Hanna Fuhrmann on sustainable consumption in Lima, Peru [completed 2022]
  • Borja Perez-Viana Martinez on ag insurance in Uganda [completed 2019]
  • Rik Habraken on youth aspirations in Uganda [completed 2019]
  • Yazhou Liu on weather index insurance in China [completed 2018]
  • Ines Ferreira on aid to fragile states [completed 2018]
  • Brendan Whitty on DFID [completed 2016]
  • Matthew Osborne on post-conflict reintegration in Uganda [completed 2015]
  • Maria Ana Jalles D’Orey on health aid in Mozambique [completed 2014]
  • Baruch Ramirez on pro-poor growth in Mexico [completed 2011]
  • Fabiola Lopez-Gomez on subcontracting in Mexico [completed 2011]
  • Patricia Agupusi on economic empowerment in S.Africa [completed 2010]
  • Maren Duvendack on micro-finance in India [completed 2010]
  • Arlette Covarrubias on female labour supply in Mexico [completed 2010]
  • Lucio Esposito on poverty and relative deprivation [completed 2009]
  • Gordon Leua Nanau on globalisation in the Solomon Islands [completed 2008]

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 1 - No Poverty
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or