Appalachian Legacy: Economic Opportunity after the War on Poverty

228 Pages·2012·8.55 MB·English

by  James P. Ziliak

APPALACHIAN LEGACY

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
AfTER THE WAR ON POVERTY
JAMEs P. ZILIAk, EdITOR
ContrIbUtors hIGhLIGhts froM Z In 1964 PresIdent Lyndon Johnson
IL traveled to Kentucky’s Martin County
dan A. black, University of Chicago APPALAChIAn Leg ACy IA to declare war on poverty. the fol-
K
Lisa A. Cimbaluk, Cornell University lowing year he signed the Appala-

Janet Currie, Princeton University “the authors suggest that a new commitment to investment in human and chian regional development Act,

steven n. durlauf, University of Wisconsin physical capital through expanded prekindergarten programs, public health creating a state-federal partnership

Mariesa herrmann, Columbia University campaigns, and regionally focused infrastructure improvements in higher to improve the region’s economic

Matthew e. Kahn, UCLA education and tourism-oriented industries is likely to offer the greatest long- prospects through better job opportu-

daniel t. Lichter, Cornell University nities, improved human capital, and
term payoff for Appalachia and similarly depressed regions of the nation.”
enhanced transportation. As the focal
seth G. sanders, duke University
—James P. Ziliak
James P. Ziliak, University of Kentucky A point of domestic antipoverty efforts,
Appalachia took on special symbolic
P
“Working-age men in Appalachia still lag behind the rest of the United states as well as economic importance.
P
in terms of income and employment—and . . . on average the relative A nearly half a century later, what are
James P. Ziliak holds the Carol Martin income differences are only slightly better in 2000 than they were in 1960.” L the results? Appalachian Legacy pro-
Gatton endowed Chair in Microeco- A vides the answers.
—Dan A. Black and Seth g. Sand
nomics at the University of Kentucky, C
where he is also director of the h APPALACHIAN LEGACY Led by James P. Ziliak, prominent
“Issues of family change cannot be ignored in policy discussions of poverty economists and demographers map
Center for Poverty research. he is the
I
editor of Welfare Reform and Its Long- reduction strategies in Appalachia. Policies aimed at strengthening fami- A out the region’s current status. they
n ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY explore important questions, includ-
Term Consequences for America’s lies need a place at the policy table, even in a region with a long history of
ing how has Appalachia fared since
Working Poor (Cambridge University chronic unemployment.” L AFTER THE WAR ON POVERTY
the signing of ArdA in 1965? how
e
Press, 2009). —Daniel T. Lichter and Lisa A. Cimbaluk
G does it now compare to the nation
as a whole in key categories such as
A
“Appalachian adults are in relatively poor health and are more likely to die of education, employment, and health?
C
cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes than other U.s. adults. It Was ArdA an effective place-based
y
is common to blame such disparities in outcomes on disparities in current ac- policy for ameliorating hardship in a

troubled region, or is Appalachia still
cess to medical care. however, the research summarized [here] suggests that

mired in a poverty trap? And what
these disparities may have their roots in childhood deprivation rather than
lessons can we draw from the Appa-

current deprivation. This observation further suggests that it will be difficult to
lachian experience?
eradicate adult health disparities in the short run.”
—Janet Currie and Mariesa herrmann In addition to providing the reports of
important research to help analysts,
policymakers, scholars, and regional
experts discern what works in fighting
poverty, Appalachian Legacy is an
important contribution to the economic
brooKInGs InstItUtIon Press history of the eastern United states.
Jacket design by Peggy Archambault
Washington, d.C.
Cover photos: (top) Cecil W. stoughton/White house
Photo Office; (Bottom) Bill Rhodes, Asheville, NC www.brookings.edu
JAMES P. ZILIAK, EDITOR
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APPALACHIAN LEGACY
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james p. ziliak
Editor
APPALACHIAN LEGACY
Economic Opportunity
after the War on Poverty
brookings institution press
Washington, D.C.
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about brookings
The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to research, education,
and publication on important issues of domestic and foreign policy. Its principal purpose is to
bring the highest quality independent research and analysis to bear on current and emerging
policy problems. Interpretations or conclusions in Brookings publications should be under-
stood to be solely those of the authors.
Copyright © 2012
james p. ziliak
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036
www.brookings.edu
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the
Brookings Institution Press.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data
Appalachian legacy : economic opportunity after the war on poverty / James P. Ziliak, editor.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8157-2214-4 (hbk. : alk. paper)
1. Poverty—Appalachian Region. 2. Appalachian Region—Economic policy.
3. Appalachian Region—Economic conditions. I. Ziliak, James Patrick.
HC107.A127A64 2012
339.4'60974—dc23 2011051163
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed on acid-free paper
Typeset in Adobe Garamond
Composition by Circle Graphics
Columbia, Maryland
Printed by R.R. Donnelley
Harrisonburg, Virginia
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Contents
Acknowledgments vii
1 Introduction: Progress and Prospects for Appalachia 1
James P. Ziliak
Part I. Progress against Poverty 17
2 The Appalachian Regional Development Act
and Economic Change 19
James P. Ziliak
3 Inequality and Human Capital in Appalachia: 1960–2000 45
Dan A. Black and Seth G. Sanders
4 Family Change and Poverty in Appalachia 81
Daniel T. Lichter and Lisa A. Cimbaluk
Part II. Future Challenges for Appalachia 107
5 Socioeconomic Status, Child Health, and Future
Outcomes: Lessons for Appalachia 109
Janet Currie and Mariesa Herrmann
v
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contents
vi
6 Cities, Economic Development, and the Role of
Place-Based Policies: Prospects for Appalachia 149
Matthew E. Kahn
7 Poverty Traps and Appalachia 169
Steven N. Durlauf
Contributors 207
Index 209
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Acknowledgments
Iam grateful forfinancial support from the University of Kentucky Center
for Poverty Research, underwritten by a grant from Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. I thank Gary Burtless, Hilary Hoynes, Chris Kelaher, Mark
Schweitzer, and an anonymous reviewer for insightful comments on earlier ver-
sions of the chapters. The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect the views of any sponsoring agency.
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