THE RURAL POOR.

This article presents a paper which addresses the issue of rural poverty, as it has been treated through public policy in the U.S. It begins with a look at some of the causes of rural poverty and the evolution of public policy responses. The rural poor made especially great strides in the 1970's, unlike earlier decades. Primarily as a result of federal income transfer programs, rural poverty has lost much of its harsh personal impact. Nonetheless, the residual hard core of the poor still exist, being too costly and too difficult to reach.