This report analyzes the economic competitiveness of rural areas in the United States. It summarizes a selective, interpretative review of the literature on the economic performance, the composition and evolution of rural economies in the United States, the nature of the business environment in rural regions, and evidence on the role of clusters in these areas. It also briefly reviews U.S. policies and recommendations for rural regions, concluding with an interpretation of the state of rural competitiveness and areas for future research.

Image: Randen L. Pederson "Wisconsin Farm" September 12, 2007 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution.