Rebecca Simson

Dr. Rebecca Simson is a Departmental Lecturer in Economic and Social History at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on postcolonial Africa’s economic development, social structures, and public policy, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Sierra Leone. She explores how economic conditions, urbanization, education, and climate stresses have shaped Africa’s trajectory since independence. Simson has held postdoctoral positions at LSE and the Institute for Historical Studies, and currently serves as a visiting fellow at LSE’s International Inequalities Institute and editor of Frontiers in African Economic History.

Her research interests include wealth inequality, elite persistence, and colonial legacies. Notable projects examine descendants of colonial-era elites in Sierra Leone, probate records in Kenya and South Africa, and the economic depression of 1980s–1990s Africa. She teaches courses such as Quantification in History and contributes to the Oxford Centre for Economic and Social History. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary policy debates on inequality and development.

Simson’s publications span journals like Economic History Review, African Affairs, and International Journal of Educational Development. She emphasizes methodological innovation, including name analysis and probate records, to trace long-term social and economic trends. Her research highlights the persistence of historical inequalities and the evolving role of the state in postcolonial societies.