Written By: Sarah Lanphear
On Thursday, October 19, Lycoming College hosted guest speaker Dr. Kristina Ruffini to discuss her research on the interconnections between health and income. She spoke to a packed house in the Trogner Presentation Room as part of the Douthat Lecture series, following a long line of fascinating presenters at the school. Dr. Ruffini is a well-known researcher who attended Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy after a year at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve's Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute. She holds an M.A. in economics, a Ph.D. from UC Berkley, an M.P.A. from the London School of Economics, and a bachelor's degree in economics, international relations, and political science from Boston University.
This education has led her to successful publishing in media, such as the New York Times and Washington Post, and attendees appreciated the opportunity to hear about some of her most recent research. The talk, titled "Income, Health, and Government Policy: How the Social Safety Net Can promote well-being, began with an introduction of the relevance of her research given the increasing prevalence of poverty in the U.S., then delved into some of the programs she has researched to determine this fact's impact on national health. Dr. Ruffini explained correlations between the Substantive Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), different types of tax-based assistance, and increasing minimum wage and health in the United States, measured by life expectancy, disease prevalence, and infant health. She also explained how policy leaders can use cost-benefit analysis to weigh the benefits of many of these government programs against their economic costs.
In describing her findings, Dr. Ruffini provided students with practical applications for courses they have taken throughout their careers at Lycoming while increasing awareness for some issues they may choose to study during and after graduation. Her address of the challenges in learning public health and income also inspired attendees by prompting their questions about further avenues for research and other factors that should be considered in conjunction with her findings, such as their causes and how present correlations will impact future generations. Dr. Ruffini's talk was followed by a reception where many were eager to speak with her about her work. This event provided a tremendous opportunity to inspire students and staff regarding future research. It provided awareness of important issues relating to the interdisciplinary research areas studied by those at Lycoming College.
