Andrew Primmer

Background

As an economic historian, my expertise lies in exploring Britain’s formal and informal empire, with a special focus on South America and Sub-Saharan Africa. My journey began at the University of Wales, Swansea, where I graduated in 2006. Post-graduation, I ventured into industry, honing my skills in accounting and becoming a part-qualified accountant with the ACCA.

A profound interest in Latin America, kindled by travels to the region in 2010, led me to pursue a master’s degree at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Here, I was honoured to receive the Beca de Estudiante Sobresaliente de Posgrado, a prestigious award marking me as the first foreign recipient. A condensed version of my thesis, delving into the nuances of the region's economic history, was recently published in English in with Business History (2023).

In 2013, my academic path took me to the University of Bristol. Under the guidance of Professor Roger Middleton and Professor Matthew Brown, I embarked on a project examining the Business and Economic History of British Railway Companies during the first period of globalisation. This period of study was uniquely blended with my role in finance at a multinational American conglomerate in Reading. My commitment and research were further recognized when I received the Deas Scholarship, an internal Bristol University accolade. My doctoral dissertation, supervised by Professor Colin Lewis, was nominated for the best doctoral dissertation of 2018.

After a brief return to the accounting industry in 2020, I was awarded the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship. Currently, I am collaborating with Professor Mark Casson on a project that analyses the economic history of railway companies in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. This project not only encapsulates my academic pursuits but also reflects my enduring commitment to understanding the intricacies of economic history in these dynamic regions.