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In the National Interest: Defining Rural and Urban Correctly in Research and Public Policy

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  • Andrew M. Isserman

    (Departments of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois, Urbana isserman@uiuc.edu)

Abstract

Researchers and policy makers depend on two federal systems when defining urban and rural. One, designed by the U.S. Census Bureau, separates the territory of the nation into urban and rural. Its intent is to differentiate urban and rural. The other, designed under the leadership of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), focuses on the integration of urban and rural within metropolitan and micropolitan areas. Forgetting the distinction between separation and integration is dangerous, for example, when (mis)using the OMB system as if it differentiated between urban and rural. At stake is the misunderstanding of rural conditions, the misdirection of federal programs and funds, and a breakdown of communication that confuses people. This article presents two alternatives that can strengthen the foundations of research and policy and uses one of them to analyze rural distress and prosperity. Much can be gained by using these better rural definitions to replicate important research to see whether key findings hold true and to review eligibility requirements and funding procedures to determine whether government programs are reaching the rural people and places they are intended to serve.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew M. Isserman, 2005. "In the National Interest: Defining Rural and Urban Correctly in Research and Public Policy," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 28(4), pages 465-499, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inrsre:v:28:y:2005:i:4:p:465-499
    DOI: 10.1177/0160017605279000
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Bruce Weber & J. Matthew Fannin & Kathleen Miller & Stephan Goetz, 2018. "Intergenerational mobility of low‐income youth in metropolitan and non‐metropolitan America: A spatial analysis," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(2), pages 87-101, June.
    3. Bev Wilson & Mallory L. Rahe, 2016. "Rural prosperity and federal expenditures, 2000–2010," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(1-2), pages 3-26, March.
    4. Nikhil Kaza & Roberto Quercia & Robert J. Sahadi, 2014. "Home energy efficiency and mortgage risks: an extended abstract," Community Development Innovation Review, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, issue 01, pages 063-069.
    5. Tsvetkova, Alexandra & Partridge, Mark & Betz, Micael, 2016. "Entrepreneurial and Wage and Salary Employment Response to Economic Conditions Across the Rural-Urban Continuum," MPRA Paper 75781, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Matthew Thomas Clement & Nathan W. Pino & Jarrett Blaustein, 2019. "Homicide Rates and the Multiple Dimensions of Urbanization: A Longitudinal, Cross-National Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-16, October.
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    9. repec:rre:publsh:v:37:y:2007:i:2:p:251-78 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Brigitte S. Waldorf & Julia Beckhusen & Raymond J.G.M. Florax & Thomas De Graaff, 2010. "The role of human capital in language acquisition among immigrants in US metropolitan," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(1), pages 39-49, June.
    11. Barnard, Freddie L. & Yeager, Elizabeth A., 2015. "Access to Agricultural Banks in Rural Counties in the Face of Changing Demographics, Evolving Social Preferences, and Increasing Bank Regulations," Journal of the ASFMRA, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, vol. 2015, pages 1-22.
    12. Ellen M. Hoffmann & Monish Jose & Nils Nölke & Thomas Möckel, 2017. "Construction and Use of a Simple Index of Urbanisation in the Rural–Urban Interface of Bangalore, India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-21, November.
    13. Tandel, Vaidehi & Hiranandani, Komal & Kapoor, Mudit, 2019. "What’s in a definition? A study on the suitability of the current urban definition in India through its employment guarantee programme," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 69-84.
    14. Kaza, Nikhil, 2020. "Urban form and transportation energy consumption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    15. Thomas G. Johnson, 2013. "Rural policy," Chapters, in: Gary Paul Green (ed.), Handbook of Rural Development, chapter 3, pages i-ii, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    16. Rickman, Dan S., 2007. "A Brief on When and How Rural Economic Development Should be Done," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 37(1), pages 1-4.
    17. Fangwu Wei & Tony H. Grubesic, 2015. "A Typology of Rural Airports in the United States: Evaluating Network Accessibility," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 45(1), pages 57-85, Spring.
    18. Isserman, Andrew M., 2007. "Getting State Rural Policy Right: Definitions, Growth, and Program Eligibility," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 37(1), pages 1-7.
    19. Eathington, Liesl, 2015. "Nanopolitans and Picopolitans: Exploring the Value of Core-Based Definitions Below the Micropolitan Level," Staff General Research Papers Archive 38991, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    20. Parshall, Lily & Gurney, Kevin & Hammer, Stephen A. & Mendoza, Daniel & Zhou, Yuyu & Geethakumar, Sarath, 2010. "Modeling energy consumption and CO2 emissions at the urban scale: Methodological challenges and insights from the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 4765-4782, September.
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    22. Nagasawa, Kazunori & Davidson, F. Todd & Lloyd, Alan C. & Webber, Michael E., 2019. "Impacts of renewable hydrogen production from wind energy in electricity markets on potential hydrogen demand for light-duty vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1001-1016.

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