Professor Karen Benson
Professor of Finance
School of Business
+61 7 334 60773
Room 344, Colin Clark Building (39), St. Lucia Campus
Karen Benson is the Director of the Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation at The University of Queensland. She has held a number of leadership roles at UQ, including Deputy Head of School 2016-2017, Director of Accreditation 2015-2017, and Head of Finance Discipline 2010-2015 in the UQ Business School. Karen was also Deputy President of UQ Academic Board 2018-2019.
Karen's research interests include socially responsible investment, social impact bonds, and student engagement in active learning. Her research has been well received by both practitioners and academics. Karen's work is published in internationally refereed journals including Journal of Banking and Finance, Pacific Basin Finance Journal, and Journal of Business Ethics.
Publications
Book Chapter
Mendez-Rodriguez, Paz, Galguera, Laura, Bravo, Mila, Benson, Karen, Faff, Robert and Perez-Gladish, Blanca (2015). Profiling ethical investors. Socially responsible investment. (pp. 23-52) edited by Enrique Ballestero, Blanca Pérez-Gladish and Ana Garcia-Bernabeu. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-11836-9_2
Journal Articles
Slade, Christine, Mahon, Kathleen, Lynagh, Jacqueline, McGrath, Dominic, Sheppard, Karen, Ahsan, Syed Qasim Muhammad and Benson, Karen (2024). A pedagogical evaluation of an institution's digital assessment platform (DAP): Integrating pedagogical, technical and contextual factors. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 40 (4), 90-104. doi: 10.14742/ajet.9448
Hunter, David, Sun, Zhen and Benson, Karen (2020). The exclusive role of centralized fund family management. Journal of Financial Services Research, 58 (2-3), 199-236. doi: 10.1007/s10693-019-00328-2
Benson, Karen, Linnenluecke, Martina K., Morrison, David and Rosov, Sviatoslav (2019). Death spiral PIPEs: a reconsideration of the evidence. Accounting and Finance, 60 (4) acfi.12535, 4175-4194. doi: 10.1111/acfi.12535
Pathan, Shams, Wong, Peh Hwa and Benson, Karen (2019). How do 'busy' and 'overlap' directors relate to CEO pay structure and incentives?. Accounting and Finance, 59 (2), 1341-1382. doi: 10.1111/acfi.12272
Benson, Karen, Chang, Millicent, Gray, Philip and Wright, Sue (2018). The enduring and evolving influence of Ball and Brown (1968). Australian Journal of Management, 44 (1), 031289621881328-159. doi: 10.1177/0312896218813288
Chang, Yanhao, Benson, Karen and Faff, Robert (2017). Are excess cash holdings more valuable to firms in times of crisis? Financial constraints and governance matters. Pacific Basin Finance Journal, 45, 157-173. doi: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2016.05.007
Mi, Lin, Benson, Karen and Faff, Robert (2017). A specialised volatility index for the new GICS sector - real estate. Economic Modelling, 70, 438-446. doi: 10.1016/j.econmod.2017.08.025
Benson, Karen, Clarkson, Peter M, Smith, Tom and Tutticci, Irene (2016). Corrigendum to: A review of accounting research in the Asia Pacific region (Australian Journal of Management, 40, 1, (36), 10.1177/0312896214565121). Australian Journal of Management, 41 (4), 660-661. doi: 10.1177/0312896216666613
Benson, Karen Leigh and Smith, Tom (2016). Reply to ‘So, who really is a “noted author” within the accounting literature? A reflection on Benson et al. (2015)’. Australian Journal of Management, 41 (4), 656-659. doi: 10.1177/0312896216666612
Li, Yong, Benson, Karen and Faff, Robert (2016). Political constraints and trading strategy in times of market stress: evidence from the Chinese national social security fund. Finance Research Letters, 19, 217-221. doi: 10.1016/j.frl.2016.08.002
Mi, Lin, Benson, Karen and Faff, Robert (2016). Further evidence on idiosyncratic risk and REIT pricing: a cross-country analysis. Accounting Research Journal, 29 (1), 34-58. doi: 10.1108/ARJ-07-2013-0048
Benson, Karen, Faff, Robert and Smith, Tom (2015). Injecting liquidity into liquidity research. Pacific Basin Finance Journal, 35 (Part B), 533-540. doi: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2015.10.001
Humphrey, Jacquelyn E., Benson, Karen L., Low, Rand K.Y. and Lee, Wei-Lun (2015). Is diversification always optimal?. Pacific Basin Finance Journal, 35 (Part B), 521-532. doi: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2015.09.003
Benson, Karen, Clarkson, Peter M., Smith, Tom and Tutticci, Irene (2015). A review of accounting research in the Asia Pacific region. Australian Journal of Management, 40 (1), 36-88. doi: 10.1177/0312896214565121
Yao, Haixiang, Li, Yong and Benson, Karen (2015). A smooth non-parametric estimation framework for safety-first portfolio optimization. Quantitative Finance, 15 (11), 1865-1884. doi: 10.1080/14697688.2014.971857
Benson, Karen, Faff, Robert and Smith, Tom (2014). Fifty years of finance research in the Asia Pacific Basin. Accounting and Finance, 54 (2), 335-363. doi: 10.1111/acfi.12081
Pullen, Tim, Benson, Karen and Faff, Robert (2014). A comparative analysis of the investment characteristics of alternative gold assets. Abacus, 50 (1), 76-92. doi: 10.1111/abac.12023
Rekker, Saphira A. C., Benson, Karen L. and Faff, Robert W. (2014). Corporate social responsibility and CEO compensation revisited, do disaggregation, market stress, sender matter?. Journal of Economics and Business, 72, 84-103. doi: 10.1016/j.jeconbus.2013.11.001
Humphrey, Jacquelyn E., Benson, Karen L. and Brailsford, Timothy J. (2013). Do fund flow-return relations depend on the type of investor? A research note. Abacus, 49 (1), 34-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6281.2012.00374.x
Benson, Karen and Faff, Robert (2013). β. Abacus, 49 (Supplement 1), 24-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6281.2012.00380.x
Pérez-Gladish, Blanca, Benson, Karen and Faff, Robert (2012). Profiling socially responsible investors: Australian evidence. Australian Journal of Management, 37 (2), 189-209. doi: 10.1177/0312896211429158
Benson, Karen L., Hutchinson, Marion and Sriram, Ashwin (2011). Governance in the Australian Superannuation Industry. Journal of Business Ethics, 99 (2), 183-200. doi: 10.1007/s10551-010-0648-1
Lee, Darren D., Humphrey, Jacquelyn E., Benson, Karen L. and Ahn, Jason Y. K. (2010). Socially responsible investment fund performance: The impact of screening intensity. Accounting and Finance, 50 (2), 351-370. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-629X.2009.00336.x
Benson, Karen L., Faff, Robert W. and Smith, Tom (2010). The simultaneous relation between fund flows and returns. Australian Journal of Management, 35 (1), 51-18. doi: 10.1177/0312896209354217
Benson, Karen L. and Humphrey, Jacquelyn E. (2008). Socially responsible investment funds: Investor reaction to current and past returns. Journal of Banking and Finance, 32 (9), 1850-1859. doi: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2007.12.013
Hallahan, T., Faff, R. W. and Benson, K. L. (2008). Fortune favours the bold? Exploring tournament behavior among Australian superannuation funds. Journal of Financial Services Research, 33 (3), 205-220. doi: 10.1007/s10693-008-0030-y
Benson, K., Tang, G. and Tutticci, I. (2008). The relevance of family characteristics to individual fund flows. Australian Journal of Management, 32 (3), 419-443. doi: 10.1177/031289620803200303
Benson, K., Gray, P., Kalotay, E. and Qiu, J. (2008). Portfolio construction and performance measurement when returns are non-normal. Australian Journal of Management, 32 (3), 445-461. doi: 10.1177/031289620803200304
Benson, Karen L., Gallagher, David R. and Teodorowski, Patrick (2007). Momentum investing and the asset allocation decision. Accounting and Finance, 47 (4), 571-598. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-629x.2007.00227.x
Benson, K. L., Faff, R. W. and Nowland, J. (2007). Do derivatives have a role in the risk shifting behaviour of fund managers?. Australian Journal of Management, 32 (2), 271-292.
Benson, Karen L. and Faff, Robert W. (2006). Conditional performance evaluation and the relevance of money flows for Australian international equity funds. Pacific Basin Finance Journal, 14 (3), 231-249. doi: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2005.10.002
Benson, K. L., Brailsford, T. J. and Humphrey, J. E. (2006). Do socially responsible fund managers really invest differently?. Journal of Business Ethics, 65 (4), 337-357. doi: 10.1007/s10551-006-0003-8
Benson, K. L. and Humphrey, J. E. (2005). Comparing SRI funds and conventional funds. Portfolio Construction Journal, 2 (1), 30-33.
Benson, K. L. and Gray, P. K. (2005). Does the short rate predict market returns?. Journal of Investment Strategy, 1 (1), 59-62.
Benson, Karen L. and Faff, Robert W. (2004). The relationship between exchange rate exposure, currency risk management and performance of international equity funds. Pacific Basin Finance Journal, 12 (3), 333-357. doi: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2003.10.001
Benson, Karen and Oliver, Barry (2004). Management motivation for using financial derivatives in Australia. Australian Journal of Management, 29 (2), 225-242. doi: 10.1177/031289620402900205
Benson, K. L. and Faff, R. W. (2004). Investigating performance benchmarks in the context of international trusts: Australian evidence. Applied Financial Economics, 14 (9), 631-644. doi: 10.1080/0960310032000
Benson, Karen L. and Faff, Robert W. (2003). Exchange rate sensitivity of Australian international equity funds. Global Finance Journal, 14 (1), 95-120. doi: 10.1016/S1044-0283(03)00007-3
Benson, K. L., Pope, P. and Faff, R. W. (2003). The relevance of investor risk classes in ranking fund performance: An application of the Extended Mean-Gini CAPM. Journal of Quantitative Economics, 1 (1), 20-35. doi: 10.1007/bf03404646
Benson, Karen, Pope, Peter and Faff, Robert (2003). An investigation of the relationship between stated fund management policy and market timing ability. Pacific Accounting Review, 15 (1), 1-15. doi: 10.1108/eb037969
Benson, K. L. and Faff, R. W. (2003). A performance analysis of Australian international equity trusts. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 13 (1), 69-84. doi: 10.1016/S1042-4431(02)00027-6
Benson, K. L., Pope, P. and Faff, R. W. (2003). An investigation of the relationship between stated fund management policy and market timing ability. Pacific Accounting Review, 15 (1), 1-16.
Conference Papers
Mahon, K., Slade, C., Benson, K., McGrath, D., Lynagh, J., Sheppard, K. and Ahsan, Q. (2024). A pedagogical evaluation of an institutional digital assessment platform (DAP): Measuring impact on teaching and learning. HERDSA Annual Conference 2024, Adelaide, SA Australia, 9-11 July 2024. HERDSA.
Slade, Christine and Benson, Karen (2020). The future is now as educational developers foster academic integrity in universities. ICED 2020, Zurich, Switzerland, 15-19 June 2020. Zurich, Switzerland: ETH.
Benson, K. L. and Faff, R. W. (2003). Conditional performance evaluation and the relevance of money flows for Australian international equity funds. AFAANZ 2003 Annual Conference, Brisbane, 6-8 July, 2003. Melbourne: AFAANZ.
Benson, K. L. (2002). The relationship between exchange rate exposure, currency risk management and performance of international equity funds. 2002 Research Student Colloquium, Riverglenn Conference Centre, Indooroopilly, 1 June, 2002. The University of Queensland, St Lucia: UQ Business School.
Benson, Karen L. and Faff, Robert W. (2002). The relationship between exchange rate exposure, currency risk management and performance of international equity funds. AAANZ 2002 Annual Conference, Perth, Western Australia, 7-9 July, 2002. Melbourne, Vic: AAANZ.
Working Paper
Research Reports
Benson, Karen, Slade, Christine, Mahon, Kathleen, McGrath, Dom, Sheppard, Karen, Lynagh, Jacqui and Ahsan, Syed Muhammad Qasim (2024). Inspera pedagogical evaluation report. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Benson, Karen L., Humphrey, Jacquelyn and Pullen, Timothy (2016). An examination of social benefit bonds: a report prepared for Queensland Treasury Corporation. Brisbane, Australia:
Creative Works
Slade, Christine and Benson, Karen (2020). Reflections on academic integrity and academic development during COVID-19 at the University of Queensland, Australia. Albany, NY, United States: ICAI.
Slade, Christine, Benson, Karen, Adams, Peter, Franklin, Craig, van roo Douglas, Ethan and Evans, Rowan (2020). Taking contract cheating seriously: institutional-student partnership for action. Atlanta, GA, United States: International Center for Academic Integrity.