32nd annual Seaver Lecture set for March 4

LAWRENCE — David Slusky, University of Kansas associate professor of economics, will give the annual Seaver Lecture at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Hall Center for the Humanities.  

Slusky will present “What to Expect When You’re Unexpectedly Expecting: Reproductive Rights Restrictions in Trump’s America."
 
Reproduction and mastery of destiny are ancient parts of the human condition that have often been in conflict. Modern technology, however, has diminished this conflict by giving humanity control over its reproduction and therefore also its destiny. Recently, there have been numerous new restrictions on reproductive rights. This has led to fewer abortions, increased birth rates, less preventive care and worsening household financial situations, according to Slusky. 

Americans are now contemplating a landscape where abortion is completely unavailable in many parts of the country and access to contraception is severely limited. Slusky will discuss how these recent consequences will shape the future.

Slusky, who is also the associate chair and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Economics, is an applied microeconomist whose research focuses on health economics and public policy. He holds a courtesy appointment with the Department of Population Health. Slusky is affiliated with the Institute for Policy & Social Research and is a research fellow at the Institute for Labor Economics in Bonn, Germany. He received his master's degree and doctorate in economics from Princeton University in 2015 and his bachelor's degrees in physics and international studies from Yale University.  
 
The Seaver Lecture gives KU faculty the opportunity to present their research related to “continuing issues in Western Civilization. The lecture is sponsored by the Humanities Program and co-sponsored by the Hall Center for the Humanities.