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The Economic Impacts of the Prison Development Boom on Persistently Poor Rural Places

Author

Listed:
  • Amy K. Glasmeier

    (Department of Geography, The Pennsylvania State University, akg1@ems.psu.edu)

  • Tracey Farrigan

    (Independent Scholar, tfarrigan@ers.usda.gov)

Abstract

Prison construction experienced explosive growth over the 1980s and 1990s. Many poor rural communities invited prisons into their environs, anticipating jobs and economic development. However, with one notable exception, no ex post empirical studies exist of the economic effects of prison construction on rural counties. Following an extensive review of the literature, this research uses a quasiexperimental control group method to examine the effect of state-run prisons constructed in rural counties between 1985 and 1995 on county earnings by employment sector, population, poverty rate, and degree of economic health. Analysis suggests a limited economic effect on rural places in general, but may have a positive impact on poverty rates in persistently poor rural counties, as measured by diminishing transfer payments and increasing state and local government earnings in places with relatively good economic health. However, there is little evidence that prison impacts were significant enough to foster structural economic change.

Suggested Citation

  • Amy K. Glasmeier & Tracey Farrigan, 2007. "The Economic Impacts of the Prison Development Boom on Persistently Poor Rural Places," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 30(3), pages 274-299, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inrsre:v:30:y:2007:i:3:p:274-299
    DOI: 10.1177/0160017607301608
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. John M. Eason, 2017. "Prisons as Panacea or Pariah? The Countervailing Consequences of the Prison Boom on the Political Economy of Rural Towns," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Daniel S. Grossman & Brad R. Humphreys & Jane E. Ruseski, 2019. "Out of the outhouse: The impact of place‐based policies on dwelling characteristics in Appalachia," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(1), pages 5-28, January.
    3. Juan Tomas Sayago-Gomez & Gianfranco Piras & Donald Lacombe & Randall Jackson, 2015. "Impact Evaluation of Investments in the Appalachian Region: A Reappraisal," Working Papers Working Paper 2015-06, Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University.
    4. Mulugeta S. Kahsai & Randall Jackson, 2015. "Quasi-Experimental Methods an Annotated Bibliography," Working Papers Resource Document 2015-01, Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University.

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