Rebecca Simson

Rebecca Simson is a researcher in the Department of Economic History at the London School of Economics (LSE), where she focuses on social and economic transformations in postcolonial Africa. Her work centers on social mobility, elite formation, and state development, particularly in East Africa.

Research Interests:

• African Economic History
• Inequality and Social Mobility
• State Development in Africa
• Public Finance and Aid
• Elite Formation and Social Stratification

Her research utilizes census data, household surveys, and educational statistics to analyze how access to higher education and formal employment has shaped class structures in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda since independence. She connects historical patterns to contemporary debates about whether African class divisions are becoming more rigid.

Recent Research Trends: Her publications and ongoing projects emphasize the role of the public sector as a driver of social mobility and elite composition in post-independence Africa. By examining long-term shifts in public employment and educational access, her work bridges economic history, development studies, and sociology.

Teaching:

• EH211: Africa and the World Economy, 1500–2000

Scientific Contributions:

• Forthcoming article in African Affairs on ethnic inequality in public services in Kenya and Uganda.

Advising and Grants: While no students or grant funding are explicitly mentioned in the text, her active research agenda suggests involvement in academic mentorship and potential grant-supported projects related to African development and historical inequality.

Labs and Research Teams: No specific labs or research teams are mentioned, but her affiliation with the Department of Economic History at LSE places her within a broader network of scholars focused on global economic change and historical development.