Carolyn A. Brackett

Abstract

The social nad economic problems of declining and underdeveloped areas in the U.S. have led to a complex of policies and programs designed to deal with these issues. Because of the structure of American gouvern-ment, these programs have had to be applied at the state or local level. Many of the problems have a regional dimension, however, which extends beyond established government boundaries.

This need not necessarily create difficulties. Similar programs can be and have been established simultaneously in contiguous states or counties in both the ARA and Appalachian programs. But it is not clear that the replication of similar programs 'in several different contiguous jurisdictions is either the most efficient use of federal resources or the most effective way to generate economic frowth.

Benjamin H. Stevens, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA