BUTLER/CUNNINGHAM

This site will change from time to time. Basic organization will remain constant.

click here to contact Mike Polioudakis, site developer

polioej@acesag.auburn.edu

Level 2

AL Ag Facts:

Poverty and Development

Selection of Similar Pages

Rural Alabama is a congenial place to live, but much of rural Alabam is poor, is not developed, has poor schools and other infrastructure, and has little realistic chance to improve its infrastructure or to develop. These problems were fed by the fact that much of Alabama agriculture has not been competitive since the 1950s, and has declined in most parts of the state since then. Now the problems feed on themselves and cause themselves. This vicious circle makes it hard to escape. It is not clear what to do about this situation.

The first three buttons to left go to the work of Dr. William Hardy of Auburn University. It comes from the 2002 BC conference. Dr. Hardy describes the circle of economy and society that sustains rural life, and what happens when that circle is broken. Besides the slide show, there is both a short and long version of a paper he has written.

The set of two buttons to the left goes to the work of Dr. Joe Sumners, also of Auburn University. It comes from the 2003 BC conference. He graphically describes rural poverty and rural disadvantage in Alabama, showing the situation here in comparison to the region and to the country. He also explains its roots in the system of taxation and in the (lack of) funding of education.