Dr. Janhavi Shankar Tripathi, assistant professor of Finance, presented his latest research on the impact of tariffs on inflation and household budgets across income levels and regions in the United States at the 2025 New York State Economics Association (NYSEA) Conference, held Nov. 7-8 at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York.

The paper, co-authored with Dr. Erick W. Rengifo of Fordham University, was presented in the International Economics and Finance session. The study examines how tariff-induced price increases on food and beverages disproportionately burden low- and middle-income households. Using trade and household expenditure data, the authors find that lower-income households face up to 50% higher utility losses from tariff-related price changes compared to top earners, underscoring the regressive nature of tariffs on essential goods.