Cristina Bodea

Cristina Bodea is a Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University (MSU), affiliated with the College of Social Science. She joined MSU in 2006 after earning her PhD from the University of Rochester and completing a post-doctoral fellowship at Princeton University. She held a leave from 2007–2009 as an Economist at the European Central Bank. Her research focuses on International and Comparative Political Economy, Gender and Political Economy, and Political Conflict. She has published widely in top journals such as the Journal of Politics, British Journal of Political Science, and International Organization.

• Education: PhD in Political Science, University of Rochester (2006)

Her work explores themes such as central bank independence, gender bias in economic governance, fiscal policy, and the political economy of post-communist transitions. She currently serves as Editor of the British Journal of Political Science and Political Economist, and holds the Mason Soneral Faculty Fellowship (2022–2025). Her research has been supported by institutions like the World Bank and the European Central Bank.

Key trends in her articles include analyzing gender dynamics in central banking, the impact of bilateral investment treaties on taxation, and the relationship between political institutions and economic stability. Her work often bridges quantitative analysis with theoretical frameworks in political economy.

• Awards: Mason Soneral Faculty Fellow (2022–2025)

Bodea’s research also examines the interplay between political violence and development, as seen in her studies on civil wars and coups. She leads the Women’s Leadership Institute at MSU and contributes to data initiatives like the updated Central Bank Independence Index (1972–2020).