Allyson Benton

Allyson Benton is a Reader in the Department of Government at the University of Essex and serves as Faculty Dean for Postgraduate Studies in Social Sciences. She holds a PhD from UCLA and has held academic appointments at institutions such as City, University of London and the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico. Her research focuses on political economy, particularly subnational fiscal policy, political impacts on financial markets, and Latin American political dynamics. She has been a visiting professor at the University of São Paulo and a scholar at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

Education

• PhD in Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• MA in Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles
• BA in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley

Research Interests

Dr. Benton’s work examines how political factors influence financial markets (e.g., social media’s impact on asset prices) and fiscal policy decisions at subnational levels. Her research integrates Latin American political risk analysis with comparative political economy frameworks. Key themes include electoral authoritarianism, partisan fiscal behavior, and the interplay between violence and governance.

Publications

Her recent work includes analyses of subnational fiscal policy in Mexico, the role of social media in financial markets, and electoral dynamics in authoritarian regimes. Her publications reflect a blend of quantitative methods and regional expertise, often addressing how political institutions shape economic outcomes.

Awards

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (2021–present)

Teaching & Grants

She oversees postgraduate academic support and has held roles as Research Ethics Officer at Essex. Her teaching focuses on advanced political economy topics, while her grants likely support interdisciplinary research in comparative politics and fiscal policy.

Labs/Teams

Her work aligns with the University of Essex’s Department of Government research clusters, particularly those addressing global political economy and democratization processes.