Christina Kent

Christina’s work focuses on using applied microeconomics tools to improve public policy aimed at reducing poverty in the United States.

Christina holds a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University, where she studied public and labor economics. Her research focused on using unique natural experiments to answer difficult policy questions. In one research paper, she used causal inference methods, such as difference-in-difference designs, to study how wealth impacts local economic growth. In more recent work, she applied event study analysis in a collaboration with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services to study homelessness and poverty in the United States. She has also explored the potential of using cell phone GPS data to create a real-time nationwide estimate of homelessness, and investigated the utility of predictive analytics programs in child welfare. Christina plans to continue using research to improve public policy in her research role at Mathematica.

Christina was motivated to study economics after seeing the dramatic increases in unemployment and economic instability in the aftermath of the 2008 recession. She is inspired to use quantitative evidence to improve public policy and reduce poverty.