Books

Over his career, Sheheryar Banuri has written and collaborated on some longer form texts in the domain of decision making, and behavioral development economics (notable for mainstreaming behavioral science at the World Bank).  His second solo-authored book is due to be released in 2023, titled "The Decisive Mind," published by Hodder and Stoughton.

Good Decisions for Strange Situations

Good decisions are hard to make - agreed? Whether it's deciding what kind of take-away to order, what brand of shampoo to buy, or what to do in a crisis, we've all been in situations where we panic or overthink.

And now, more than ever, we are in unfamiliar territory. Our routines and norms have been completely disrupted, replaced by stress and anxiety and making a good decision is harder than ever.

But this book is here to help. Behavioural Economist Dr Sheheryar Banuri will be your guide. By asking: What can we learn from past behaviour in similar crises? How does the psychology of decision-making change under stress? And how can we avoid making the wrong decisions? Good Decisions for Strange Situations is that fool-proof guide to help you give yourself the best possible chance of choosing wisely.

​

Banuri, S. Good decisions for strange situations. 2020. Hoddor and Stoughton Press.

World Development Report 2015: Mind, Society, and Behavior

Development economics and policy are due for a redesign. In the past few decades, research from across the natural and social sciences has provided stunning insight into the way people think and make decisions. Whereas the first generation of development policy was based on the assumption that humans make decisions deliberatively and independently, and on the basis of consistent and self-interested preferences, recent research shows that decision making rarely proceeds this way. People think automatically: when deciding, they usually draw on what comes to mind effortlessly. People also think socially: social norms guide much of behavior, and many people prefer to cooperate as long as others are doing their share. And people think with mental models: what they perceive and how they interpret it depend on concepts and worldviews drawn from their societies and from shared histories.

​

The World Development Report 2015 offers a concrete look at how these insights apply to development policy. It shows how a richer view of human behavior can help achieve development goals in many areas, including early childhood development, household finance, productivity, health, and climate change. It also shows how a more subtle view of human behavior provides new tools for interventions. Making even minor adjustments to a decisionmaking context, designing interventions based on an understanding of social preferences, and exposing individuals to new experiences and ways of thinking may enable people to improve their lives.

​

World Bank. 2015. World Development Report 2015: Mind, Society, and Behavior. Washington, DC: World Bank.