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Abstract
Reports of worrisome economic trends and deficiencies
in rural areas typically spawn pronouncements
on the need for rural economic development.
Such reports often highlight: declining employment in
primary economic sectors, high unemployment, a lack
of jobs for young workers and a consequent aging of
the population, overall population loss, closures of
local businesses, declining per capita incomes relative
to urban areas, inadequate education and healthcare,
and high rates of poverty. What are seldom subsequently
addressed, however, are issues of whether
these can and should be remedied, and whether the
state should play a role.
In the following, I discuss these issues and recommend
courses of action. The discussion and recommendations
are based on what we know from academic
research on rural areas (and regions more generally),
including research I have done with long-time
collaborator Mark Partridge. I first address the issue of
whether a case can be made for state involvement in
rural economic development efforts. This is followed
by discussion of how to decide which areas to develop.
I conclude by offering a few broad guidelines
for state rural economic development strategies.