The Geography of Inequality: Local Governments and Community Well–Being across America

Linda Lobao

Wednesday, 06 Apr 2016 at 7:00 pm – Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall

Linda Labao is a professor in Rural Sociology, Sociology, and Geography at The Ohio State University's School of Environment and Natural Resources. Her work focuses on how changes in industry and agriculture, as well as governments, have an impact on communities, households, and individuals. She will discuss geographic disparities in poverty and privilege and how local governments can help reduce inequality and ensure public well-being. Lobao has been a faculty member at Ohio State since 1986 and has served as chair of the rural sociology graduate program since 2005. She received her PhD from North Carolina. George M. Beal Distinguished Lecture in Rural Sociology

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Inequality, disparities in poverty and privilege, has become of widespread public and scholarly concern. Yet when considering the geography of inequality, researchers conventionally focus on the nation-state as a whole or city-neighborhoods. Less is known about disparities at the subnational scale across U.S. communities that face significant economic and governmental challenges. This presentation explains how sociologists are carving out the study of inequality at the subnational scale. Recent research and key geographic disparities are discussed with particular attention to rural areas. The U.S. has experienced profound economic changes in recent decades that were further exacerbated by the Great Recession. Accompanying these changes has been a movement toward more decentralized government. The degree to which local community governments can help to reduce inequality and ensure public well-being across the nation is assessed.

The George M. Beal Distinguished Lectureship in Rural Sociology recognizes and honors the lifelong contributions of Professor George M. Beal in the creation and prominence of the Iowa State Department of Sociology and extends Dr. Beal's legacy of addressing significant rural issues and trends impacting rural communities and rural people.

Cosponsored By:

• George M. Beal Lecture Fund
• Sociology
• Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)