Accounting and Finance - Sugar Consumption In Britain in Colonial Times
Supervisor: Dr Gianluigi Giorgioni
Supervisor bio:
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/gianluigi-giorgioni
I joined the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS) in 2011. My main research interest is on the decolonisation of finance, although I am also interested on the impact of finance (broadly defined) upon economic growth and development.
I have published an edited book on “Development Finance: issues and challenges” (Palgrave) in September 2017. Other current research interests are monetary unions in developing countries with special reference to the CFA Franc Zone and Islamic Finance. Other topics are outward Foreign Direct Investment from emerging markets, in particular China, determinants and impact of accounting and financial disclosure in the context of emerging markets and FDI in the context of rural areas.
I have the responsibility for teaching Principles of Finance, Ethics and Regulations in Finance, Skills in Finance and I am involved in the Project for Finance. I have acted as the Director of Studies for the BSc Finance and BSc Finance with the year in Industry; as the ULMS co-lead for Recruitment, Admissions and Widening participation (RAWP); as the ULMS Senior Tutor and as the Director of Studies for the BA Business Economics and BA Business Economics with the year in Industry.
Although as I am on the teaching and scholarship (T&S) pathway I am not able to supervise PhD theses, I still would be very interested in getting contacted by people, from very different walks of life and disciplines, interested in de-colonisation.
Email: G.Giorgioni@liverpool.ac.uk
School: Management School
Department: Accounting and Finance
Module code: ULMS201
Suitable for students of: There is not any particular requirement in terms of subject areas. However, familiarity with numbers is probably very useful.
It is very important to be curiosity driven, with an eye for detail, and possessing some degree of historical awareness (and knowledge).
Fluency (reading) in languages other than English could be useful, in particular in French and/or Spanish
Desired experience or requirements: Applicants must be able to demonstrate a high level of familiarity with NVivo, competence in utilisation in the data software package, and preferably previous experience in thematic coding of moderate data sets, such as student dissertations. Students will be preferably studying – or have completed study – at Masters Level, although undergraduate students with relevant experience will also be fully considered. Upon taking on the role, students will have to sign a non-disclosure statement to ensure data protection and adhere to the ethical approval protocols associated with this project.
Places available: 4
Start dates: Session 1 (15th June 2026)
Project length: 4 weeks
Virtual option: Yes
Hybrid option: Yes
Project description:
This project focus on the recent assertion by Berg and Hudson in their 2023 book” SLAVERY, CAPITALSM AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION” on page 60 that “Consumption of sugar per capita in Britain was EIGHT times larger than in France without however providing any further explanation. The citation they use (Solow 1987 pp 70-72 as the source of information) simply repeats the assertion, but provides further references.
Eventually what appears to be the original source of information [Sheridan, R.B. (1974) Sugar and slavery: an economic history of the British West Indies, 1623-1775 ] states that pending further detailed research, any explanation of rising British sugar consumption after 1750 must be regarded as speculative….
In a gist this is the objective of this project. It will involve some “detective” work by reading through the “small print” of a variety of sources.
The task could be enabled and supported by technical wizardry. However, it may be possible to argue that the human ability to cut through perplexing patterns, unexplained silences and omissions, and over exaggerated admissions, could be useful.
Additional requirements: N/A