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Summary
"This book targets an important but little understood element of the rural economy and systematically debunks some prevalent myths about changes that are occurring in rural America. While doing this, the authors clearly articulate key theoretical issues about rural socioeconomic change and convincingly ground their conclusions with their empirical analyses." -- Forrest A. Deseran, Colorado State University
"This is the first large-scale, systematic treatment of service industries in rural areas. It is an original and genuine contribution to the literature on rural industrial development." -- Charles M. Tolbert, Louisiana State University
Through an analysis of national data and detailed case studies, From Combines to Computers examines how the transition to a service economy is playing out for rural America. It answers two important questions: Will services fill the gap left by lost farming, manufacturing, and mining jobs? And will services stabilize, even revitalize, rural areas? Glasmeier and Howland document the intraregional spatial patterns and trends of services in the national economy, compare services in urban and rural communities, and identify the potential and limitations of rural development strategies based on services. In particular, they document the growing dominance of branch plants, the displacement of "mom-and-pop" enterprises, and the declining access to services for residents in the least populated rural areas. The authors conclude that services are unlikely to be the basis of widespread sustainable development unless policies are designed to help firms and communities compete successfully in an increasingly global and information-based economy.
Amy K. Glasmeier is Associate Professor of Geography and Regional Planning at The Pennsylvania State University. Marie Howland is Director and Associate Professor of the Urban Studies and Planning Program at the University of Maryland.
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
Why a Concern about Services Now?
The Transformation of the Structure of the U.S. Economy
The Role of Services in Rural America: An Outline of the Book
The Current Rural Situation
2. Rural Services in an Age of Information Technology: Definitions, Theories, and Empirical Evidence
Defining Services
Social Change and the Growth of Services
The Growth Experience of Services in Peripheral Areas
What the Service Sector Means for Development in Rural Areas
Models of Service Industry Development and Location
Conclusion
3. Rural Services: A New Source of Export-Led Development or a Continuing Dependence on Traditional Sectors?
Manufacturing's Experience
An Overview of Services Growth in America
The Top Ten Job-Generating Industries: A Comparison of the National and Rural Experiences
Percentage Change in Services at the National Level
Economic Diversity and the Structure of Services
Services as a Share of Total Rural Employment
Conclusion
4. Producer Services: Back Offices, Niche Markets, New Exports?
The National View of Complex Corporate Activities
Patterns of Growth in Export-Oriented Producer Services
Conclusion
5. Rural Computer Services in an International Economy
Computer Services: The Expectation
Overview of Rural Computer Services
Computer Programming in Rural Economies
Data Entry and Processing in Rural Economies
Conclusion
6. The Changing Face of Banking in Rural Communities
Competitive Context Steers Structural Changes and Market Orientation
The Case Studies
Discussion of the Case Studies and Their Implications
Conclusion
7. The Transformation of the Residentiary Sector: From Local Services to Branch Operations
Retail Services
Case Study: Olney, Illinois
Consumer Services
Conclusion
8. Conclusions
The Service Economy in Rural America
Implications for Development Practice
Strategies for Rural Service Exporters
Implications for Development Theory
Appendix I: Geographic System Used to Identify Rural Areas
Appendix II: Data Sources and Limitations
The Organizational Basis of County Business Patterns, Recent Revisions and Classification Changes
