Socioeconomic Stratification

Studies have documented that recent population decline in U.S. countieshas been exacerbated by economic recession, but there is a lack ofinformation about how to stabilize a declining population in a growing economy. The purpose of this book was to measure participants perceptions of therelationship between population decline and economic growth, employment, andeducation in one northern US County. Smiths theory relating functional divisionof labor to increases in wealth and Malthuss theory relating population changeand economic growth served as theoretical bases. This mixed-methods casestudy used documents, a survey of 25 participants, and individual interviewswith 10 participants. Data were analyzed with ANOVAs, t tests, and linearsimple regressions. Survey results indicated that participants believed there wasa minimal to moderate correlation between population decline and economicgrowth and that increased higher education opportunities in the communitycould stabilize the population and create long-term economic growth. Someparticipants were concerned that increased educational opportunities wouldlead to overpopulation and a loss of traditional values, suggesting that effortsshould be made to help community members understand the value of highereducation as a population and economic stabilizer. This study can contribute topositive social change by providing strategies for maintaining economic stabilityin areas experiencing population decline.