Abstract
Recent developments in information and communication technology have reduced the relevance of location and created optimism that the historic economic advantages of metro areas relative to nonmetro areas may be diminished. This manuscript utilized data from the 2009 Current Population Survey to compare the incomes of the residents of metro compared with nonmetro counties. It was found that nonmetro incomes remain significantly lower than metro incomes even when considering the effects of intervening variables. Metro/nonmetro income differences were especially pronounced among persons with advanced educations and those employed in high-pay service industries. Consequently, many people who choose to live in nonmetro areas continue to do so at considerable economic cost. Under these circumstances, many nonmetro communities will continue to struggle economically and demographically without help.
Recommended Citation
Albrecht, Don. 2012. "A Comparison of Metro and Nonmetro Incomes in a Twenty-First Century Economy." Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 27(1): Article 1. Available at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/jrss/vol27/iss1/1
Publication Date
4-30-2012
