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Abstract

Socioeconomic transformations associated with urbanization, population mobility, and changing labor markets are often accompanied by competing public narratives and perceptions. Yet the relationship between these perceptions and observable socioeconomic realities remains insufficiently understood, particularly in rapidly changing development contexts. This postdoctoral project explores how individuals and communities perceive socioeconomic change, how information shapes these perceptions, and how such perceptions influence attitudes toward economic and social developments. Using a mixed-methods comparative case study in Uganda, the project will combine qualitative research, spatial and market surveys, and experimental approaches to examine the interaction between perceptions, information, and socioeconomic outcomes. Particular attention will be given to understanding how individuals interpret changes in local economic opportunities, labor markets, and patterns of participation in urban economies. The study will also investigate the extent to which access to locally grounded information contributes to more accurate understandings of ongoing socioeconomic transformations. By integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence, the project will contribute to broader debates on information, perceptions, and development. It aims to advance understanding of how narratives emerge, persist, and evolve in contexts of socioeconomic change, while generating insights relevant to inclusive and evidence-informed development policy.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Sterck Olivier
• Fellow: Kadigo Mark Marvin

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Funding

• BOF

Project type(s)

• Research Project