The U.S. rural economy is undergoing huge changes as the twenty-first century begins. The most compelling feature of these several changes is unevenness: some rural areas are booming while many others struggle. Looking forward, rural America faces five major challenges. Closing the digital...

Markusen and Glasmeier propose an intriguing overhaul for federal economic development policy. Many elements of their prescription are badly needed. However, their remedy does not fully embrace a conclusion that much of the rest of the world has reached—that economic development policy is...