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Toward a New Rural Typology: Mapping Resources, Opportunities, and Challenges

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  • Christelle Khalaf
  • Gilbert Michaud
  • G. Jason Jolley

Abstract

While the concept of rurality has been debated in academic and professional literature for decades, less research has been done on a practical typology that can guide localized economic development strategies. This paper adds to the growing body of literature in search of a more nuanced definition of rural by applying unsupervised machine learning (ML) to the abundance of existing county-level data in the United States. The authors illustrate how this method can lead to a new county typology, named after economic development strategies, that accounts for idiosyncrasies in resources, opportunities, and challenges. This research serves as a practical step toward tractable, heterogeneous classifications that can inform the work of federal, state, and local policy makers, economic development practitioners, and many others.

Suggested Citation

  • Christelle Khalaf & Gilbert Michaud & G. Jason Jolley, 2022. "Toward a New Rural Typology: Mapping Resources, Opportunities, and Challenges," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 36(3), pages 276-293, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:36:y:2022:i:3:p:276-293
    DOI: 10.1177/08912424211069122
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