We build a global evidence base on humans at work by partnering with some of the world’s largest firms and government entities to generate actionable, rigorous knowledge together. 

Founded by Professors Nava Ashraf and Oriana Bandiera at the London School of Economics, the Lab builds on their pioneering Altruistic Capital Theory (2017). We posit that all individuals have a desire to contribute to others, which can be built into a capacity to make a positive impact – a form of human capital that we term altruistic capital. Like other forms of capital, altruistic capital can be accumulated, or depleted. When work is designed to cultivate connection and agency, altruistic capital grows, creating a virtuous cycle of motivation and productivity. It can be eroded through dissonance, leading to disengagement. The Lab exists to understand and measure these dynamics, impacting both science and practice.

We work with global organisations to become living laboratories, co-designing, testing, and evaluating interventions that help workers discover purpose, build new capabilities, and flourish. Our projects span the full spectrum of modern work: from helping white-collar employees align their personal purpose with their job activities, to supporting blue-collar workers as they navigate industrial and technological transitions, to innovating labour-market programmes that empower youth and the unemployed.