Bevölkerungsentwicklung im ländlichen Raum der USA in den achtziger Jahren: Trendwende oder Kontinuität?

Abstract

The article analyses the population growth in rural counties of the USA for1970-80 and 1980-86. The growth rates are examined on different levels of aggregation (individual counties, subregions and regions) and in relation to several possible determinants of growth. The main objective of the study is to examine whether the growth patterns in the eighties support the hypothesis of a turnaround in the population development of rural areas. This hypothesis was proposed by many researchers on the basis of data from the seventies. The results reveal a diversity of growth patterns and significant regional differences. Rural counties within the daily urban system of a metropolitan area have significantly higher growth rates than peripheral rural counties. The results do not support the notion of a turnaround of long established trends. The trends in the eighties bear more resemblance to traditional growth patterns of rural areas.