Brain drain in rural America

St. Paul, Minn. — Sociologists Patrick Carr and Maria Kefalas spent two years in a small town in Iowa trying to find out why so many young people are leaving rural America. What they found was that many small towns are playing a role in their own demise, by pushing the best and brightest to leave and under-investing in those who stay.

Participate or revisit a live discussion about the phenomenon.

Guests

• Patrick Carr: Associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University and co-author of "Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What it Means for America."
• Sue Harris: Community education director for the St. James school district in St. James, Minnesota.

Resources

• Hollowing Out the Middle
• About Patrick Carr
• University of Minnesota Horizons program