Will Rains and a National Recovery Bring Rural Prosperity
分析了2002年干旱和就业复苏乏力对美国农村经济的冲击，探讨降雨和更强经济复苏能否改善农村前景，并指出长期繁荣需依靠创业和创新。
Drought and a jobless recovery battered the rural economy in 2002. The worst drought since the Dust Bowl gripped many parts of rural America, leading to forest fires, livestock liquidations, short crop supplies, and a plunge in farm incomes. After a solid start, a soft period for the national economy limited the ability of rural businesses to create new jobs. As rural stakeholders looked at their new menu of economic options, many were left wondering if rains and a stronger national recovery would be enough to lead rural America back to prosperity. This article examines the rural outlook in the face of drought and a weak national recovery. The first section analyzes the current state of the farm economy, focusing on the drought and its impacts on the farm sector. The second section explores the jobless recovery on the Main Streets and industrial parks of rural communities. The article concludes that the return of rain and stronger national economic growth should improve the prospects for rural areas in 2003. To prosper in the long run, however, many rural places must create new opportunities forged on a renewed commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation. Jason Henderson is an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and Nancy Novack is an associate economist at the bank. This article is on the bank’s website at www.kc.frb.org.