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Poverty research and policy for rural America

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Abstract

Resurgent interest in poverty in the U.S. by both researchers and policymakers offers an opportunity to bring increased attention to the plight of the rural poor. Rural poverty is widespread and severe, and fundamental changes in the structure of the national economy portend continued distress in remote areas. High labor force participation by the rural poor has important theoretical and policy implications for understanding the causes, consequences and intervention strategies for combating poverty. Research on the characteristics and circumstances of different groups of the poor in rural areas could make a significant contribution toward dispelling some of the myths about “deserving and undeserving” categories of poor people that continue to impede design and implementation of appropriate policy. We review what is currently known about rural poverty, what needs to be learned, and how such research applies to current policy debates.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the University of Kentucky, USA

    Cynthia M. Duncan (associate director)

  2. Aspen Institute, P.O. Box 959, 03824, Durham, NH

    Ann R. Tickamyer (associate professor of sociology)

Authors
  1. Cynthia M. Duncan
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  2. Ann R. Tickamyer
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Additional information

has conducted applied research on the working poor and economic development in Appalachia.

specializes in rural labor markets, gender and stratification, and political sociology. She is on the advisory board of the Aspen Institute’s Rural Economic Policy Program.

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Duncan, C.M., Tickamyer, A.R. Poverty research and policy for rural America. Am Soc 19, 243–259 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02691983

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