The El-Erian Institute (EEI) was created as part of a generous benefaction from University of Cambridge alumnus Dr Mohamed A. El-Erian.
“This is a very exciting development for our Business School. The El-Erian Institute will help bring together many research disciplines at Cambridge Judge, including those focusing on economics and policy-making, while also drawing on broader Cambridge expertise in subjects ranging from neuroscience to psychology. The Institute will help us address social and environmental challenges, and to improve lives and livelihoods,” said Professor Stephen J Toope, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
“We are delighted to be the home for the El-Erian Institute, which will greatly benefit Cambridge students and our research agenda in important areas related to behavioural insights and how they impact economic policy,” said Professor Mauro Guillén, Dean at Cambridge Judge. “The Institute is a welcome strategic addition to and a great fit with Cambridge Judge Business School.”
The Institute focuses on gaining a better understanding of the interaction between human behaviour and decision making, particularly in the presence of uncertainty and insecurity, with the goal of improving society’s collective wellbeing and quality of life.
At Cambridge Judge, the Institute will leverage multiple subject group disciplines including those focusing on economics and policy, while also drawing on other Cambridge expertise in subjects ranging from neuroscience to psychology – with the aim of identifying new approaches to address social and environmental challenges and improve lives.
The EEI is an important addition to the Business School’s public and practitioner engagement; an essential part of Cambridge Judge’s mission. Activities planned include holding annual conferences and international workshops, as well as hosting the 2024 International Conference of the International Behavioural Public Policy Association in association with the London School of Economics.
The donation that established the Institute includes an endowed Chair Professorship, an associated Fellowship, PhD studentships, and an outreach fund.
Professor Lucia Reisch was appointed last year as the El Erian Professor of Behavioural Economics and Policy and Fellow of Queens College and joins as the first faculty Director of the El-Erian Institute of Human Behaviour and Economic Policy. Professor Reisch is a behavioural economist and social scientist, whose work includes research in sustainable consumption, behavioural public policy, and consumers and digitisation. She is an Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Consumer Policy and has worked on sustainable consumption and other issues with the OECD, the European Commission, the World Bank and various United Nations agencies. She joins Cambridge Judge Business School faculty, becoming a member of the Economics and Policy subject group.
The EEI at Cambridge Judge will hire academic staff at various levels including PostDocs and Senior Research Associates and offer teaching on topics such as behavioural economics and sustainability to degree programmes including MBA, Executive MBA and MPhils.
The El-Erian Professor will pay specific attention to mentoring early career researchers, particularly those currently less represented at the Business School.