Data from Current Population Surveys indicate that poverty rose rapidly among both nonmetropolitan and metropolitan workers during 1979-89, especially among young adults and females; and provide evidence of growing inequality of income between metro and nonmetro workers, a pattern that cannot be explained by differences in work attachment, human…

Long-term poverty rates among nonmetro Blacks have fallen dramatically since the early 1970s. Associated with that improvement are higher levels of education among young adults and smaller family size. Despite improvements, poverty levels are still much higher for Blacks than for Whites in both metro and nonmetro areas. (Author/KS)

Studies conducted since the early 1950s have identified manual workers, low income groups, those with less education, and residents of urban areas as likely to be Democratic Party voters and those from higher income groups, the better educated, those with white-collar or professional jobs, and rural residents to be more likely to vote Republican.…

A study examined whether citizens of Pennsylvania are aware of and able to access the Internet, how they are using online state resources, and whether there is a parity of access to advanced information services between rural and urban citizens. Data were gathered via telephone surveys of 1,000 residents from 62 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.…

Pennsylvania has the largest rural population in the nation, and more than 50 percent of this population is female. Overall, Pennsylvania's rural women are doing well in education, family life stability, and health, relative to comparison groups of rural men and urban women and men. Educational attainment is greater among urban women and men, but…

According to the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey, rural workers score somewhat lower than urban workers in ability to use written and quantitative materials. However, scores of rural and urban young adults are similar, reflecting recent improvements in rural education. Rural workers earn less than urban workers with similar literacy skills;…

The average weekly earnings of nonmetro wage and salary workers continued to rise through 2001, although the pace has ebbed slightly since 2000. Earnings have grown steadily among all major demographic groups, although less educated workers experienced smaller gains than college graduates. Gains for less-educated workers suggest that welfare…

The percentage of high school graduates in the rural South improved during the 1990s but lagged behind urban figures; the percentage of rural college graduates grew slightly. Rural-urban differences in educational attainment were even greater among minorities. The rural-urban income gap also widened and is not expected to improve, with few new…

This article highlights how dynamic gender relations affect the diverse experiences of men and women in Appalachia's economic development. The analysis draws from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. Census data to examine and compare the demographic, social, and economic conditions of women and men in Appalachia. The discussion focuses on geographical…

The Civil Society Network for Education Reforms (E-Net Philippines), a network of organizations pushing for Education for All, believes that years of underinvestment and neglect of the public education system have caused the country's dismal education performance. This critique provided a framework for engaging with DepEd and the Legislature,…

This study about rural school and student characteristics uses recent investigations to focus on the needs of rural schools and students. The first two sections of the report describe rural populations and communities, paying particular attention to changes since 1970 and to regional differences in growth rate, economic base, and racial/ethnic…

Chapter 5 in "The Economics of Gender in Mexico," presents a study analyzed male-female differences in earnings in rural and urban microenterprises in Mexico. Data were gathered from surveys of 1,944 households in 54 rural communities and 11,461 microenterprise owners in 34 urban areas. Findings indicate that female-headed…

This paper analyzes the determinants of literacy and earnings in Ghana. Introductory sections discuss developments in literacy in the United States and Great Britain, literacy rates in developing countries, worldwide increases in literacy, literature on the determinants of literacy, aspects of the Ghanaian economy and educational spending, and the…

The 1964 Report of the President's Appalachian Regional Commission reinforced the popular image of Appalachia--low income, high poverty, limited education, poor living standards, job deficits, high unemployment, outmigration, stagnation, and decline. Current data indicate that conditions in Appalachia have improved greatly: the percentage of…

Current Population Survey data indicate that nonmetropolitan earnings rose slightly during 1990-96, metropolitan income declined, and nonmetro income inequality lessened. Nonmetro gains were notable in the South and Midwest and for women, Blacks, and Hispanics. Earnings declined sharply for urban, but not rural, high school dropouts. The urban…