NYT article by Paul Krugman: "Getting Real About Rural America" may apply to some extent to rural India too

Last updated on 22nd March 2019

Note: This is a pessimistic post. Readers who read this post may also want to read this later post of mine which is optimistic: Unemployment & rural distress problems in many democratic countries may need optimistic & energetic leadership with good masses-connect & willingness to try innovative solutions, like US President FDR in 1930s, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/03/todays-unemployment-and-rural-distress.html, 21st March 2019

Getting Real About Rural America, Nobody knows how to reverse the heartland’s decline. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/opinion/rural-america-economic-decline.html, by Paul Krugman 18th March 2019

This article is a pessimistic one. But I think it is an important read for those who care about rural America, and also about rural India. I think some of what ails rural America already ails rural India and I expect more of such similarity of issues in rural America and rural India, in future.

The article need not be viewed as the gospel truth and the entire truth. But I think it has to be viewed as part of a reality check.

I have captured some points from the article.

1. Economic decline of rural USA

2. In 1950, US agriculture employed over six million people. Many support businesses grew in rural USA to service these millions of farmers. There were also nearly half a million coal miners based in rural USA.

3. Now the number of farmers has fallen by 2/3rds even though USA population has doubled (since 1950). And there are around 50,000 coal miners (around 1/10th of 1950 figure). People in "declining" rural areas feel left behind.

4. Very sad situation of many jobless men in prime working years and increase in "deaths of despair" (drugs, alcohol, suicide) in "declining" rural areas.

5. Rural USA has a more negative view of immigrants as compared to overall USA view.

The author concludes the article saying that his views are not big-city condescension. He is simply giving the reality (as per him). He says rural USA economic life is being impacted by powerful economic forces and that it is not known how this can be stopped.

Ravi: I think one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem, policy makers in many countries of the world, including India, have to tackle is that of rural areas of their country falling badly behind urban areas. How to ensure decent life for rural folks as per standards of early 21st century - that is the challenge. And in a country like India with around 1.3 billion people, of which, as of now, the majority (67% as per http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/india-population/) live in rural India, it is a mega challenge.

[I thank nytimes.com and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above notes based on their article, on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]