Used 1934-1978 Missouri county-level data to analyze hypotheses related to Goldschmidt thesis. Confirmed hypothesis that scale of farm operation is negatively related to rural community quality of life. Received limited support for hypothesis that quality of life indices are negatively related to amount of increase in farm size over time.(NEC)

Questions one of the assumed benefits of rapid growth in rural areas--the retention of rural youths through finding employment in their home communities. Finds no relationship between migration intentions of 970 high school seniors in rural Utah counties and rapid growth in local energy-related extractive employment. (LFL)