Search results

Although most countries in the world are rapidly urbanizing, the majority of the global population - particularly the poor - continue to live in rural areas. This Handbook rejects the popular notion that urbanization should be universally encouraged and presents clear evidence of the vital importance of rural people and places, particularly in terms of environmental conservation. Expert contributors from around the world explore how global trends, state policies and grassroots movements affect contemporary rural areas in both developed and developing countries

A variety of economic, social, and political changes have buffeted American communities since the mid-1970s. Local leaders in both the public and private sectors have devised several strategies to meet these challenges, the most visible of which are organized campaigns to promote economic development. (JLN)

Mail survey data from 500 households across 19 nonmetropolitan counties in GA (average response rate = 48%) are drawn on to investigate the effects of community attachment, household characteristics, & community structure on location-of-spending patterns among households. Results indicate that spending location is primarily related to total household spending & community attachment. Community size & proximity to a metropolitan area are also correlated with total purchases in the community. Some differences are found in the importance of such household & community characteristics across various categories of goods & services; eg, community attachment is strongly related to local food purchases. Results support arguments regarding the social embeddedness of economic action. 6 Tables, 20 References. Adapted from the source document.

Examines the relationship between local development policies & changes in the number of jobs in both the manufacturing & service sectors during the mid-1980s, based on data for 900 cities from the US Census & a 1984 International City Management Assoc survey of local governments. A two-stage least squares regression analysis indicates that policy adoption had a limited effect on employment change, 1982-1987. For both manufacturing & service employment, market factors had the strongest effect on employment growth. The findings suggest that local economic development policies had a limited influence on changes in the number of jobs in cities during the economic recovery of the 1980s. Local investment in infrastructure & education, however, may enhance employment growth in both the manufacturing & service sectors. 2 Tables, 29 References. Adapted from the source document.

Examines whether racial & ethnic groups vary in their job-search strategies & whether the effects of job-search strategies vary for racial & ethnic groups, using data from the Multi-City Study of Urban Inequality, which includes a random sample of households in Atlanta ([GA] N = 1,528), Boston ([MA] N = 1,820), & Los Angeles ([CA] N = approximately 4,000). Findings indicate that Hispanics rely much more heavily on informal search strategies, but these lead to lower-paying jobs. Relying on a friend or relative to locate a job is especially detrimental for Hispanics. Using a multiplex tie (ie, a person who is a friend or relative, a coworker, & a neighbor) leads to lower-paying jobs for blacks & higher-paying jobs for whites. Results suggest that a better understanding of racial & ethnic differences in search strategy results may require a more detailed examination of racial & ethnic differences in the kinds of jobs produced by informal searches & the types of employers more likely to use word-of-mouth recruitment. 6 Tables, 25 References. Adapted from the source document.