My research interest lie in understanding the long-term development of the African continent. This includes both the colonial past and contemporary issues. Under the umbrellas of African Economic History and contemporary development studies I have published on a number of topics such as: structural transformation; long-term inequality trends; inclusive agricultural development; natural resource dependency; property rights institutions and colonial legacies. While I am interested in Africa broadly I have more specifically studied Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Mauritius.

Currently I am pursuing three different research interests. First, calculating levels and trends in colonial income inequality in Africa, and studying drivers and dimensions of long-term inequality. Second, analysing various aspects of transformative change in Small Island Developing States, including sustainable use of ocean resources. Third, understanding what fossil fuel dependent developing countries can learn from historical cases of commodity collapse when facing the green energy transition.

I have been involved in teaching at Lund University since the late 1990s. I have been involved in numerous different courses and programs from bachelors to PhD levels, within my own departmen and faculty and as well as outside. I have been teaching traditional economic history, development studies, teachers training, management and much more. I have also supervised a large number or bachelors and masters theses.

Teaching philosophy

I am currently teaching various courses within my own department, within the faculty and at outside LUSEM. At the Department of Economic History I have two course at the bachelors level as part of the international program Bachelors in Development Studies which is a collaboration with the departments of economic history, sociology, political science and human geography. One course is on African economic history and one on methods in preparation for thesis writing (also including fieldwork and internship). At the masters level I teach an Advances Topic on long-term trends in global inequality. At the faculty I teach at the Master in Management program a course on global challenges with a focus on the current era of globalization. I have supervision of master theses at the international LUMID program at the Faculty of Social science.

My ambition is to combine my academic research with efforts to disseminate knowledge to students as well as an interested general public. This has led me to give a number of speaches to study groups, private entrepreneurs and other groups and individuals with an interest in Africa. I have also been involved in writing and editing textbooks, one of which can be downloaded for free.

https:://aehnetwork.org/textbook