Publications

Research reports

The Center for Rural Policy and Development produces research on rural issues in four primary areas: Technology, Economic Development, Demography and Education. Select a section to browse the compendium of reports. All reports are in pdf format for easy downloading and printing. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view these reports. For a copy of this free software, click here.

Scroll over the publications tab to visit our Newsletter and Commentary pages.

Technology

2012 Minnesota Internet Study: Digital Divide 2.0 and Beyond
• Examining the current state of Internet access in Minnesota and how the digital divide is redefined now that Internet access is here to stay.

2012 Economic Contribution of Telecommunication Companies Serving Greater Minnesota

• Please visit this link to read a report of the economic impact analysis program.

2010 Minnesota Internet Study

• Looking at the growth of broadband access and use for clues to what’s next
Full report

2010 Broadband speeds in Minnesota’s school districts
• An examination of issues surrounding broadband speeds in schools
Full report

2007 Minnesota Internet Study
• Tracking the progress of broadband
Full report

2006 Minnesota Internet Study
• Broadband enters the mainstream
Full report

2005 Rural Minnesota Internet Study
• An examination of metro/rural differences in digital technology adoption
Full report

2004 Rural Minnesota Internet Study:
• Monitoring the rise of broadband use in Greater Minnesota households
Full report

Business, the Internet and Broadband in Greater Minnesota:
• 2004 survey of businesses
Full report

Broadband access in Rural Minnesota:
• 2003 survey of broadband providers
Policy brief

2003 Rural Minnesota Internet Study
• Tracking the rise of broadband use in Greater Minnesota households
Consumer survey

The 2002 Rural Minnesota Internet Study:
• How rural Minnesotans are adopting and using telecommunications technology
Consumer survey report
• The role and state of rural telephone companies
Provider survey report
• Examining the communications needs of Greater Minnesota’s companies
Manufacturers survey report

The 2001 Rural Minnesota Poll:
Asking rural Minnesotans questions on taxes, workforce development and telecommunications
Full report

The Minnesota Rural Telecommunications Initiative
Final report and recommendations
Preliminary report defining the issues

Economic Development

Effects of the Rising Cost of Gasoline on Rural Consumers in Minnesota (July 2009)
Full report

Understanding Small Business Development and Entrepreneurialism
in Rural Minnesota
Full report

The Job Opportunity Building Zone Program:
Assessing Employment and Wage Outcomes (Dec. 2006)
Full report

The Job Opportunity Building Zones Program:
Moving Forward in Times of Uncertainty (Dec. 2005)
Full report

Minnesota’s Commercial Alternative Energy Industries:
Production, Policies and Local Economies (Dec. 2005)
Full report (revised edition)

Job Opportunity Building Zones:
A Year One Progress Report (Feb. 2005)
Full report

Job Opportunity Building Zones:
Constructing the Framework for Program Evaluation (Aug. 2004)
Full Report

Understanding Job Opportunity Building Zones
Policy brief

The Economic Impact of 501(c)3 Nonprofits in Northwest Minnesota
Full report

Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota Connections:
A Business Perspective
Policy brief
News release

The Rural Health Care Marketplace:
A survey of businesses and health care providers in southwestern and northwestern Minnesota
Full report

Short Rotation Woody Crops:
A role for the state of Minnesota
Full report

The 2001 Rural Minnesota Poll:
Asking rural Minnesotans questions on taxes, workforce development and telecommunications
Full report

Community Aggregation in Greater Minnesota Under a Restructured Electrical System
Full report

Estimating the Economic Impact of the Latino Workforce in South Central Minnesota
Full report

Demography

Addressing Diversity: Making a Difference in Our Communities
Workbook (1.1 MB)
Hard copies of this book can also be ordered from the Center for $5 each, plus shipping and handling.

The Vitality of Latino Communities in Rural Minnesota
Full report
Policy brief in English
Resumen de política publica en Español

Education

A Region Apart:
A look at challenges and strategies for rural K-12 schools (April 2009)
Full report

Latino Students in our Public Schools:
A Closer Look
Full report

The Entrepreneurial Campus Initiative:
Understanding the Entrepreneurial Orientation of Students
Full report

Capitalizing on the Potential of Minnesota’s Rural Campuses
Full report

Small Schools Under Siege:
Evidence of Resource Inequality in Minnesota Public Schools
Full Report
Policy brief

Making Difficult Times Worse:
The impact of per-pupil funding formulas on rural Minnesota schools
Full report

The Need is Now:
Dealing with Minnesota’s teacher shortages
Full report