Uses national-level secondary data to examine economic/sociological experiences of United States farmers from 1960-1980's. Examines farm size, farm policy, risk, management, income, economic stress, social goals, population shifts, and part-time farming. Finds life-style and well-being contribute more than economic characteristics to farmer…

Presents papers from Illinois State Library and Shawnee Library System's "Libraries on the MOVE" conference focusing on how libraries can impact economic/cultural climate of an area. Topics addressed included information services of rural libraries; marketing; rural library development; library law; information access; interagency…

Over 250 rural leaders attended the conference "Beyond Agriculture: New Policies for Rural America," held in Kansas City (Missouri) in April 2000. The conference began with an assessment of where the rural economy and rural policy are headed in the new century. Speakers suggested that the rural economy is likely to remain a mix of…

Deals with some of the unique aspects of rural practice in child welfare, such as the interface between juvenile justice agencies and child welfare programs, poverty, and the changing roles (especially economic) of rural women. Demonstrates urban-type programs are often not appropriate in dealing with rural problems. (Author)

Compares the attitudes of newcomers to rural areas from cities with those of rural newcomers and rural residents on several growth and development issues. The research suggests that rural newcomers may be more likely to function as advocates of change in a local situation than former urbanites. (Author/CT)

Three individuals long involved in Appalachian regional affairs are interviewed concerning Appalachia's future. Recent economic development based on cultivating "crossroads" growth centers has contributed to growing gaps between growth areas and rural areas and between the middle and working class, and threatens regional values of…

Reviews a book that describes changes affecting rural America including the farm crisis, growing poverty, and in-migration of those who contribute little to the local economy. Addresses implications for rural service delivery and government policy. (LP)

Presents poverty statistics from the report of the Rural Sociological Society's Task Force on Persistent Rural Poverty. Discusses who the rural poor are, recaps the history of government policies affecting rural poverty, and touches upon 10 theories that attempt social, economic, and educational explanations of why poverty is so persistent in…

Examines development of rural communities and regions that depend on extractive industries (involving removal of raw materials from nature). Discusses "addictive activities" in such communities characterized by rising operation costs and declining commodities' prices. Discusses community and regional characteristics contributing to…

Critiques the popular view of rural United States and presents various systems for classifying rural counties. Describes six major socioeconomic and political trends affecting rural areas. Hypothesizes the effects of the six major trends on types of nonmetro counties using the typology which classifies nonmetro counties based on primary economic…

Explores community, contrariness, and cottage farming with author Gene Logsdon. Discusses the value of living, working, and playing with one's children (including home schooling) and the pitfalls of careerists isolating themselves from the community. Maintains that diversity is an essential part of the cottage farming lifestyle and leads to…

The 1990 Rural Sociological Society's Task Force on Persistent Rural Poverty describes rural poverty, comparing it to urban poverty; rejects human-capital, economic-organization, and culture-of-poverty theories of rural poverty and proposes research on 10 other theories; and discusses rural policy and its inequitable emphasis on farmers. (KS)

Underemployment is another indicator of nonmetropolitan labor's disadvantaged circumstances. Yearly employment transitions during 1968 and 1993, show that compared to urban counterparts, adequately employed nonmetro workers were more likely to become underemployed; the nonmetro underemployed were less likely to become adequately employed; and…

Suggests that school-to-work initiatives can be an important policy tool for rural development. Discusses key components of school-to-work systems (school-based learning, work-based learning, and connecting activities); national and international trends impacting rural economies; rural advantages and weaknesses related to economic development; and…

Debate about rural policy is often based on persistent presumptions about conditions in "rural England," generally associated with economic decline, low incomes, and a lack of services. Such generalisations are rarely justified for rural areas as a whole and we term them as "stylised fallacies." The impression of their…