This report identifies factors that influence a rural area's economic success or failure, and evaluates whether federal programs efficiently address rural economic problems. Data collection included a review of federal programs that provide funding to rural areas, and interviews with federal and state agency officials involved with rural…

The annual conference of the National Public Policy Education Committee (NPPEC) is held to improve the policy education efforts of extension workers responsible for public affairs programs. This publication contains 26 conference papers: "Rural America and the Information Revolution: An Exploration of Possibilities and Potentialities"…

The National Commission on Agriculture and Rural Development Policy, established by Congress to provide broad, long-range policy perspectives, examined rural development policy issues and made many field visits to observe rural conditions and rural development projects. The Commission recognized the diversity of rural communities and identified…

Reviews local, national, and European Community influences on the formation of "integrated" rural development policy in Northern Ireland. Suggests three key issues on the policy formation agenda: agricultural versus more diversified programs as the basis of development, implementation problems, and education and training needs. Contains…

For decades, colleges of agriculture (CAs) and their larger land-grant universities have neglected their mission to promote nonfarm rural development. Cultural, institutional, and financial barriers have impeded this mission. Pursuing a rural development mission would provide a new constituency for CAs and increase their legitimacy in the face of…

The Rural Opportunities Offer Tomorrow's Success (ROOTS) program is a series of policy initiatives which address problem areas in rural education, economic development, health care, and access to programs in Pennsylvania. Policy initiatives to create a better educated rural workforce include: (1) expanding career and financial counseling in rural…

Small farmers are a diverse group, ranging from part-time hobbyists with good off-farm jobs to full-time operators. General rural development policies, rather than traditional farm policies, may be the best method to help those small farmers who earn insufficient income. (JHZ)

A survey of approximately 300 U.S. rural development officials indicates that rural-based officials often had a greater appreciation of rural environmental quality of life features than did their urban-based counterparts. Suggests decentralizing rural development policy formation to the communities affected. (SV)

Examines indicators and impacts of agricultural change on environment. Links environmental quality to farm structure and size, and rural cultural values. Examines correlation between part-time farming and land structure and quality. Examines policies' effect on agricultural change. Recommends incorporation of environmental policies into…

Since 1905, the Forest Service has influenced rural economies by managing timber harvests from federal lands to avoid boom/bust cycles. The Forest Service goal of "community stability" is now shifting to one of helping rural communities to diversify their economies through wise use of all forest resources. (SV)

The philosophy of, and approach to, national socioeconomic development planning are discussed in this second annual report and review of the Canadian Council on Rural Development. The first chapter seeks to define essential elements of the question of development (1) by describing in broad terms some socioeconomic disparities which exist within…

A seminar was conducted which provides a foundation upon which research, education, and action programs might be based as a state university brings its programs to focus more fully on the economic and social problems of rural areas. Papers presented covered the following subjects: objectives of community development, trends related to rural areas,…

Describes rise of rural industries in People's Republic of China following 1978 reforms. Discusses government's emphasis on urban industrialization, role of rural agricultural production, rural incomes, and policy changes. Describes new industrialization, combining peasant and modern economies, and resulting increases in rural employment and…

Considers rural development in ethical/theological context. Applies idea of Christian salvation to ecology, rural culture, land ownership, land use, and public policy issues. Discusses protection of rural areas from destructive elements of development through liberative sense of salvation. Suggests humans cooperate with nature as "complex…

This cross-national assessment of the empirical determinants of income inequality and infant mortality employs policy-relevant variables suggested by the major macrosocial theory of development and stratification. Findings indicate that modernization and ecological-evolutionary theories provide more consistent explanations of social inequalities…