Rural Industrialization: A Situational Analysis.

This article reports on certain findings of an investigation made to determine the impact of a sizeable industry on a rural area and presents a theoretical frame of reference for analyzing these findings. The purpose of the study was to test various hypotheses relating to industry as a practical solution to the social and economic problems of rural areas. The study showed that industrialization served to raise levels of living substantially but did not change social participation, social institutions, and farming endeavors to a great extent. The general conclusion of the study is that judgments regarding the impact of industrialization on a rural community can be made only after it has been determined whether or not industry will represent a new and unique situation. Prior judgments regarding the impact of industrialization on a rural community are hazardous. In a low-income community the economic impact of industrialization can be predicted. On the other hand, if industrialization represents only a slight situational change, because of previous experiences, social patterns will be disrupted minimally.