People

Dr Allyson Benton

Faculty Dean Postgraduate (Social Sciences) - Reader
Department of Government
Dr Allyson Benton
  • Email

  • Location

    5.412, Colchester Campus

  • Academic support hours

    Day/Time: Thursdays, 13:45-15:45 (During Term Time) Appointments: https://calendly.com/allysonbentonphd

Profile

Biography

I am a Reader in the Department of Government at the University of Essex. A native of Southern California, I received my BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley and my PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before joining Essex, I was a member of the Department of International Politics at City, University of London, as well as the Department of Political Studies at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico City. I have also been a visiting professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of São Paulo, Brazil and a visiting scholar in the Institute of Latin American Studies at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies in Hamburg, Germany. My academic research covers topics in both international and comparative political economy. Within international political economy, I examine the impact of politics on financial markets, most recently how politicians' social media statements affect the value and volatility of asset prices. Within comparative political economy, I examine the impact of politics on government fiscal policy decisions, with my most recent work examining how politicians' national career aspirations affect the fiscal policy choices of subnational governments. Both lines of research have been enriched by my long time working as Latin American political risk analyst and long time researching, living, and working in the region.

Qualifications

  • PhD University of California Los Angeles,

  • MA University of California Los Angeles,

  • BA University of California, Berkeley,

Appointments

University of Essex

  • Reader, Government, University of Essex (1/1/2022 - present)

  • Research Ethics Officer, Government, University of Essex (1/1/2022 - present)

  • Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (28/7/2021 - present)

Other academic

  • Senior Lecturer, International Politics, City, University of London (2/9/2019 - 31/12/2021)

  • Professor, Political Studies, Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) (1/7/2015 - 31/8/2019)

  • Associate Professor, Political Studies, Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) (1/7/2009 - 30/6/2015)

  • Assistant Professor, Political Studies, Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) (1/7/2001 - 30/6/2009)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Political Budget Cycles

Open to supervise

International Political Economy

Open to supervise

Economic Voting

Open to supervise

Comparative Political Economy

Open to supervise

Publications

Journal articles (20)

Benton, A., Jordan, S. and Philips, AQ., Taking Variance Seriously: Visualizing the Statistical and Substantive Significance of ARCH-GARCH Models. The Journal of Politics

Benton, AL. and Philips, AQ., (2020). Does the @realDonaldTrump Really Matter to Financial Markets?. American Journal of Political Science. 64 (1), 169-190

Benton, AL., (2019). Party Leader or Party Reputation Concerns? How Vertical Partisan Alignment Reins in Subnational Fiscal Profligacy. The Journal of Politics. 81 (1), 201-214

Robles, EA. and Benton, AL., (2018). Mexico 2017: Incumbent Disadvantage Ahead of 2018. Revista de ciencia política (Santiago). 38 (2), 303-333

Benton, AL., (2017). Violent Crime and Capital Market Punishment: How Violent Crime Affects the Supply of Debt to Municipal Mexico. Studies in Comparative International Development. 52 (4), 483-509

Benton, AL., (2017). Configuring authority over electoral manipulation in electoral authoritarian regimes: evidence from Mexico. Democratization. 24 (3), 1-23

Smith, HJM. and Benton, AL., (2017). The Role of Metropolitan Cooperation and Administrative Capacity in Subnational Debt Dynamics: Evidence From Municipal Mexico. Public Budgeting & Finance. 37 (2), 58-82

Benton, AL. and Smith, HJM., (2017). The Impact of Parties and Elections on Municipal Debt Policy in Mexico. Governance. 30 (4), 621-639

Benton, AL., (2016). How “Participatory Governance” Strengthens Authoritarian Regimes: Evidence from Electoral Authoritarian Oaxaca, Mexico. Journal of Politics in Latin America. 8 (2), 37-70

Benton, AL., (2013). Partisan policy promises and sector-specific stock-market performance: evidence from Mexico's 2006 presidential campaign. Business and Politics. 15 (2), 187-215

Benton, AL., (2012). Bottom-Up Challenges to National Democracy: Mexico's (Legal) Subnational Authoritarian Enclaves. Comparative Politics. 44 (3), 253-271

Benton, AL., (2009). What Makes Strong Federalism Seem Weak? Fiscal Resources and Presidential-Provincial Relations in Argentina. Publius: The Journal of Federalism. 39 (4), 651-676

Benton, AL., (2009). The effect of electoral rules on indigenous voting behavior in Mexico's state of Oaxaca. Politica y Gobierno. 16 (1), 37-69

Lucinda Benton, A., (2009). Parties and political campaigns in Mexico. POLITICA Y GOBIERNO, 5-14

Langston, J. and Lucinda Benton, A., (2009). "A ras de suelo": Candidate Appearances and Events in Mexico Presidential Campaign. POLITICA Y GOBIERNO, 135-176

Benton, AL., (2008). Do Investors Assess the Credibility of Campaign Commitments?. Political Research Quarterly. 61 (3), 403-418

Benton, AL., (2007). The Strategic Struggle for Patronage. Journal of Theoretical Politics. 19 (1), 55-82

Benton, AL., (2006). Mexico's (temporary) turn to the left. Current History. 105 (688), 69-73

Benton, AL., (2005). Dissatisfied Democrats or Retrospective Voters?. Comparative Political Studies. 38 (4), 417-442

Benton, AL., (2003). Strong presidents, powerful provinces: The political-economy of party building in Argentina's federal system. POLITICA Y GOBIERNO. 10 (1), 103-+

Book chapters (1)

Benton, AL., (2015). Reconsidering electoral contestation through voter mobilisation. In: Conceptualising Comparative Politics. 126- 149

Contact

allyson.benton@essex.ac.uk

Location:

5.412, Colchester Campus

Academic support hours:

Day/Time: Thursdays, 13:45-15:45 (During Term Time) Appointments: https://calendly.com/allysonbentonphd

More about me
Personal Webpage: https://allysonbenton.com/

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