Institute of Development Studies

Biography

Professor J.Allister McGregor uses his background in economics and anthropology to study the ways that systems of governance and the formulation and implementation of development policies impact upon poor people. His most recent work has been on conceptualising and then operationalising a social conception of wellbeing both as a way of critically analysing the persistence of poverty and as a means of re-evaluating development policy and practice. He is currently using the wellbeing to framework in the ongoing study of fishing communities in South and Southeast Asia, where there are conflicts between conservation and poverty policy objectives. He has a programme of research collaboration with colleagues in Thailand and has a particular interest in the nature of development processes in that country.

Previous projects include: WeD; Norwegian Aid Evaluation; REME; Inland Fisheries

Selected Projects and Recent Work

• The Bellagio Initiative
• Voices of the Vulnerable
• Impact of the Economic Crisis on women and children in Zambia
• Crisis Watch
• Building Sustainable Governance

Thematic Expertise

Climate Change; Security and Conflict; Social Protection.

Geographic Expertise

Bangladesh; India; Thailand.

Selected Publications »»

• Sumner, A. and McGregor, J.A. (2010) 'Beyond Business as Usual: What Might 3-D Wellbeing Contribute to MDG Momentum?', IDS Bulletin 41.1:104-112, Brighton: Wiley-Blackwell
• Davies, M and McGregor, J.A. (2009) 'Social Protection: Responding to a Global Crisis', IDS BUlletin 40.5, Brighton: IDS
• Woodcock, A., Camfield, L., McGregor, J.A., Martin, F. (2009) 'Validation of the WeDQoL-Goals Thailand Measure: culture-specific individualised quality of life' 1, October.94:135-171, Springer, Netherlands
• Camfield, L. and McGregor, J.A. (2009) 'Editor’s Introduction: Quality of Life and International Development Policy and Practice', Applied Research in Quality of Life 4.2:128-134, Springer
• McGregor, J.A., Camfield, L. and Woodcock, A. (2009) 'Needs, Wants and Goals: Wellbeing, Quality of Life and Public Policy', Applied Research in Quality of Life 4.2:135-154, Springer
• McGregor, J.A., Camfield, L., Masae, A., and Promphakping, B. (2008) 'Wellbeing, Development and Social Change in Thailand', Thammasat Journal of Economics 26.2:1-27
• Gough, I. and McGregor, J.A. (2007) Wellbeing in Developing Countries: From Theory to Research, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
• McGregor, J.A. (2007) 'Conclusion: Researching Human Wellbeing: From Concepts to Methodology' in Gough, I. and McGregor, J.A. (eds), Wellbeing in Developing Countries: From Theory to Research, Cambridge University Press
• McGregor, J.A., McKay, A. and Velazco, J. (2007) 'Needs and Resources in the Investigation of Wellbeing in Developing Countries: Illustrative Evidence from Bangladesh and Peru', Journal of Economic Methodology 14.1:107-131, Taylor and Francis
• Gough, I.R., McGregor, J.A. and Camfield, L. (2007) 'Introduction: Conceiving Wellbeing In Development Contexts' in McGregor, J.A., with Gough, I (eds), Well-Being in Developing Countries: New Approaches and Research Strategies, Cambridge University Press
• McGregor, J.A. (2004) 'Researching Well-being: Communicating between the Needs of Policy Makers and the Needs of People', Global Social Policy 4.3:337-358, Sage Publications
• Le Tissier, M, Hills, J, McGregor, J.A. & Ireland, M. (2004) 'A Training Framework for Understanding Conflict in the Coastal Zone', Coastal Management 33:77-88, Taylor and Francis
• Saltmarshe, D., Ireland, M., and McGregor, J.A. (2003) 'The performance framework: a systems approach to understanding performance management', Public Administration and Development 23.5:445-456, Wiley