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Abstract
Structural differentiation, a concept used
here to measure differences between rural
U.S. counties, can assist policymakers in
determining degrees of rural development.
The Guttman scale of structural differentiation,
derived from Dun and Bradstreet
retail establishment data, is examined for
its validity as a measure and its ability to
discriminate among counties. Valid, stable
scales of differentiation can be built from
secondary data sources and may help in
research. They must be further refined in
terms of their relationship with population
size and density, economic growth,
and individual quality of life.