Rural Policy in the New Century

This article outlines the evolution of U.S. rural policy and identifies some likely policy gaps if current trends continue. During the 1930s, the New Deal stabilized agricultural prices and provided greater access to electricity, telephones, and transportation facilities for rural people. Rural nonfarm development was built on natural resources and low cost manufacturing, which became less viable in a global economy. Competitiveness in the new economy requires greater development of human resources and information infrastructures. Rural areas have closed their education gaps with central cities, but not with suburban populations or world class standards. Rural workforce development also lags, although emerging high performance companies demand skilled workers. Information infrastructures improve the quality of life and promote high value-added rural development. Two likely policy gaps are inadequate human resource development and the lack of a coherent rural policy which responds to unique rural conditions. Such a policy would be in the national interest.