RUST IN THE WHEAT-BELT - THE SOCIAL IMPACTS OF INDUSTRIAL DECLINE IN A RURAL KANSAS COMMUNITY

While most sociologists now recognize the importance of urban industri al problems, there is less awareness of the causes and social signific ance of nonmetropolitan manufacturing decline. By means of structured and informal interviews, nonparticipant observations, and analysis of public documents, a case study was conducted to evaluate the economic and social ''community impacts'' of industrial restructuring in a nonu rban community. Eight negative consequences of manufacturing decline w ere identified. The study generated information inconsistent with two prevailing explanations for recent rural industrial troubles in the Un ited States: the underskilled production labor theory, and the deficie nt physical infrastructure thesis. Case evidence suggested that capita l flight, economic and political network powerlessness, and managerial competency deficits may be significant causes of rural manufacturing decline. Given the significance of manufacturing for rural areas, more cogent, multidisciplinary explanations for nonurban industrial shifts need to be developed.