Perspectives_Spring 04.1.qxd

OVERVIEW This issue of Perspectives presents a selection of papers presented at the Culture, Governance, and Rural Poverty in the Midwest conference, cosponsored by the RUPRI Rural Poverty Research Center and the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. The papers reported here cover the topics of hunger, workforce development, the economy and less educated workers, and the work-welfare calculation in rural and urban households. The conference was held in Chicago in May 2004. Papers and other information on the conference can be found at http://www.ncrcrd.iastate.edu/poverty/index.html.