Development Microeconomics: The role of poor mental health in perpetuating the poverty cycle in rural Pakistan
Victoria Baranov

Victoria Baranov is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne. In her research, Victoria couples RCTs and longitudinal data in her research that looks into how psychological factors may perpetuate poverty traps. Her team conducted an RCT in rural Pakistan, providing psychotherapy to depressed mothers in the treatment group, while simultaneously collecting bio-samples and baseline data. She compared life outcomes at 7 years postpartum, with significant positive effects. While ‘classical’ development microeconomics has focused on credit constraints, lack of insurance, or high exposure to disease, Baranov’s findings have significant implications for where resources should be directed in LDCs in order to break poverty traps, and offers profound insight into how mental health pervades individual and societal wellbeing.

Victoria Baranov is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne. In her research, Victoria couples RCTs and longitudinal data in her research that looks into how psychological factors may perpetuate poverty traps.

MC: Bridget Loughhead

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