Article
Reexamining Rural Decline: How Changing Rural Classifications Affect Perceived Growth
The Review of Regional Studies
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2006
Abstract
This article illustrates the commonly overlooked sample selection problem inherent in using rural classification methods that change over time due to population changes. Since fast-growing rural areas grow out of their rural status, using recent rural definitions excludes the most successful places from the analysis. Average economic performance of the areas remaining rural significantly understates true rural performance. We illustrate this problem using one rural classification system, rural-urban continuum codes. Choice of code vintage alters conclusions regarding the relative speed of rural and urban growth and can mislead researchers regarding magnitudes and signs of factors believed to influence growth.
Rights
This article is made available via a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Copyright Date
2006
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Georgeanne Artz and Peter Orazem. "Reexamining Rural Decline: How Changing Rural Classifications Affect Perceived Growth" The Review of Regional Studies Vol. 36 Iss. 2 (2006) p. 163 - 191 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/peter-orazem/19/
This is an article from Review of Regional Studies 36 (2006): 163. Posted with permission.