The American Midwest

The rural Midwest is undergoing fundamental changes with increased competition from foreign agriculture; employment shifts from higher-paying manufacturing to lower-paying service industries; the displacement of local small town business by large discount stores and shopping malls; overall population declines that threaten the viability of schools, hospitals, and other public institutions, along with an influx of minority groups that has led to strife in some communities. Using data from the 2000 Census, this collection examines the major demographic and employment trends in the rural Midwestern states with special attention to the issues that state and local policy makers must address in the near future. The contributors are well known experts in their fields, and in these original, previously unpublished materials they offer suggestions on how the Internet and other technological advances offer new opportunities for rural economies that local leaders can build on.

Norman Walzer

I: Overview; 1: Introduction and Overview; 2: The Changing Population of the Midwest; II: Major Issues and Concerns; 3: Growth, Diversity, and Aging in the Midwest; 4: Population Trends and Impact on Viability; 5: Global Challenges and Opportunities for Midwest Farmers; 6: The Role of Agriculture in the Midwest Economy; III: Possible Remedies; 7: Making the Case for Value-Added Agriculture in Economic Development; 8: Rural Knowledge Clusters; 9: Strengthening Local Rural Economies Through Entrepreneurship; 10: The Internet-Based Economy and Rural Economic Competitiveness; 11: Financing Trends and Future Options for Rural Illinois and America; 12: Key Practices in Creating a Learning Community; 13: Looking Forward by Looking Back: State Approaches to Rural Development