When examining the employment opportunities in rural "surplus" labor markets, it was found that a much greater labor supply is available in rural areas than is apparent from unemployment data. Furthermore, the "broad or elastic concept" of labor supply is more relevant to rural labor markets than the "narrow concept" of labor supply which measures…

Proposes social structural view of poverty rates as a function of local opportunity instead of individual-level focus on who is poor. Defines poverty rates as a function of industrial structure and relative power of labor in a locality. Confirms theoretical model with data from 46 South Carolina counties. (LFL)