FOOTLOOSE ENTREPRENEURS - PIONEERS OF THE NEW WEST

Over the last couple of decades, many rural areas have undergone a los s in economic vitality, an increase in unemployment, a relative declin e in income, and a high level of emigration. Per capita income for rur al areas is generally much lower than for metropolitan areas, and pove rty rates are higher. Such declines are generally attributed to a shif t in the economy away from manufacturing and primary production, towar d provision of services (OTA 1991). The biggest obstacles for rural ar eas have traditionally been the distance to markets and increasing com petition from abroad in agriculture and manufacturing.