Austin Gareth Meredith

Austin Gareth Meredith is a Professor of Economic History at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of History. Previously, he held roles including Professor of International History at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Geneva, 2010–2016) and Reader in Economic History at the London School of Economics (1988–2010). His research focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic history, globalization, colonial economies, and comparative development. Notable works include analyses of slavery’s economic roles, colonial legacies, and West African economic trajectories.

• Educations: Post-doctoral Fellow at University of London (ESRC, 1986–88); early career roles at University of Ghana and University of Birmingham (1981–85).
• Research Interests: Economic History of West Africa, Global Economic Systems, Comparative Development. Key themes include slavery’s role in pre-colonial economies, post-colonial labor dynamics, and cross-continental historical comparisons.

His awards include the Sir Timothy Coghlan Prize (2008) for best article in Australian Economic History Review and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (2003). His publications bridge macro-historical trends with micro-level institutional analyses, emphasizing decolonizing economic narratives.