Could you tell us a little about yourself, your academic background, and in simple terms what your thesis is about?
I’m from South Africa, where I studied economics in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, before coming to Lund on exchange during COVID. I loved it so much I stayed—luckily, my supervisor Kerstin Enflo was advertising a PhD in economic history at the time.
My thesis asks a simple question: when big technologies arrive, who actually benefits? I study Sweden in the 1900s as electricity spread and large firms modernized. Using GenAI, I turned thousands of old biographies and company reports into structured data, so that I could answer questions that used to take years of manual data entry.
Two takeaways in plain terms:
- Early access to electricity raised incomes, especially for ordinary workers, and local inequality fell.
- “Technology” also includes management styles. When firms brought in US-experienced engineers, the effects on jobs differed by era (expansion before 1945, more cost-cutting after), showing that institutions and choices shape what technology does.
That’s the core story.
What has it been like to be a PhD student at LUSEM — how would you describe your experience here?
LUSEM (especially Economic History) has been an enriching place to spend four years thinking hard and trying things. I’ve felt genuinely supported by a fantastic (and huge) PhD cohort and professors who were generous with their time. Together with Sweden’s strong work–life balance (including the friskvårdsbidrag), these things made the journey both productive and humane.
What are your plans after the dissertation, and do you have any advice for those just starting their PhD journey?
After the defense, I’ll start as a data scientist in Malmö, and I’m really looking forward to being part of a team again after years of largely independent work. For new PhD students: Embrace both the intense and the joyful moments, attend conferences, and invest in friendships - this is one of the best parts of academia.