PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Community/Rural/Urban Development,

RURAL POLICY AFTER THE RENAISSANCE: WESTERN EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES

Agricultural and Food Policy,

Socially Disorganized Rural Communities

The article talks about the social disorganization of rural communities in the U.S. It is stated that family farming has been on the decline for decades, with the numbers of farmers dropping by 16 million since 1950 and farms decreasing by over 4 million during the past century. It is inferred that a part of a community\u27s history and way of life are being forfeited when local business are closing. According to the author, the theory of social disorganization emphasizes social integration and stability as necessary conditions for community. It offers some of the disadvantages of disorganized communities, such as the lack of collective efficacy

1980's A Decade of Broad Rural Stress

With a decade's perspective, the 1970's "Rural Renaissance" is looking more like an interlude than a harbinger of the future. The 1980's marked a return to the patterns of outmigration typical of rural America in this century. Employment rose (albeit slightly), but so did unemployment and poverty. Not all the rural indicators went up: real income and education declined. Enhanced rural linkages with national and global marketplaces may be the key to improving the rural situation

New Agenda for Rural Policy in the 1980's

Government policies and programs to aid rural communities need to be reconsidered. Most were adopted in the 1960's and rural conditions changed greatly over the last two decades. Nevertheless, rural areas still need help to continue their momentum and to respond to the new conditions spawned by growth. This essay recounts the strides made by rural America and highlights some areas where government help might be especially valuable now