CEDI was founded as a formal Research Centre based at Brunel University in November 2005. Its activities cover the emerging research field of Economic Development and Institutions, incorporating development economics, comparative economics and transition economics. Its focus is on how a country’s economic performance is affected by its institutions - institutions that function to secure property rights, govern firms, allocate credit, redistribute wealth, select political leaders, and so on. The underlying concern of this research is the big issue of why some countries are rich and some poor, and how change can be effected.

The main themes of the research by members of CEDI are private sector development and institutional reform. This research agenda covers topics such as privatization, ethnic conflict, political instability, the disintegration of countries, corruption, the provision of public goods, stock markets, and social protection for the elderly. CEDI has specific country expertise for Brazil, Bulgaria, China, the Czech Republic, India, Russia, and Slovakia, amongst others. Members undertake both theoretical research and applied research, and have published widely in leading journals. The inaugural CEDI Conference took place at Brunel University on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 April, 2006.