Changes in population growth from urban to rural areas are reviewed and social, economic, and attitudinal explanations for these changes are discussed. In particular, the role of residential preferences in decisions to migrate and the resulting policy implications are analyzed. (Author/KR)

After decade of growth, rural income, population, and overall economic activity have stalled and again lag behind urban trends. Causes include banking and transportation deregulation, international competition, agricultural finance problems. Only nonmetropolitan counties dependent on retirement, government, and trade show continuing income growth…

This state of the art report sees progress toward improving social and economic conditions in rural America, but cites areas where there is lag when compared with metro counterparts. Wage levels, family income, employment opportunities, housing, and access to health and other essential services could be improved. (Author/KR)

Examines and explains unexpected population trends since 1970: substantial rural and small-town growth, regional shifts to the South and West, lower birth rates, increased life expectancy, smaller household size, and population growth from immigration. Illustrates how demographic events offer classic examples of the difficulty of predicting human…

Europe and America share a host of similar rural problems but not a common approach to solving them. Social and political differences make it unlikely that we can easily adopt European programs, but observing the similarities can help us understand the global nature of rural development issues. (JHZ)

Whatever migration patterns evolve, changes in the age structure mean that rural communities in general can expect fairly stable elementary school population, reduced high school population, slower growth in new business and employment, and continued increase in the elderly population. (JHZ)