Newly published NERCRD research examines rural innovation, expansion of hop production, and community influence on longevity
March 14, 2020
Innovation is widespread in rural areas, not just cities
Conventional measures of innovation suggest that only big cities foster new ideas, but a more comprehensive measure developed at the Northeast Center shows that innovation is widespread even in rural places not typically thought of as innovative. This “hidden” innovation brings economic benefits to businesses and communities, according to researchers, whose findings will help decision makers think in new ways about innovation and how they can support it.
- Read the full news release on “hidden innovation.”
- Access the Research Policy paper: Goetz, Stephan J., and Yicheol Han. “Latent Innovation in Local Economies.” Research Policy 49, no. 2 (March 2020): 103909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.103909.
Craft-beer boom linked to record-number of US states growing hops
Craft breweries aren’t just a fun place to meet up with friends. They may be fueling an unprecedented geographic expansion of hop production across the U.S., according to researchers at Penn State and The University of Toledo. Their findings suggest that as more craft breweries emerge around the country, so may new opportunities for farmers.
- Read the full news release on hop production and craft breweries.
- Access the Journal of Wine Economics paper: Dobis, Elizabeth A., Neil Reid, Claudia Schmidt, and Stephan J. Goetz. “The Role of Craft Breweries in Expanding (Local) Hop Production.” Journal of Wine Economics 14, no. 4 (November 2019): 374-82. https://doi.org/10.1017/jwe.2019.17.
Community factors influence how long you’ll live, study shows
While lifestyle choices and genetics go a long way toward predicting longevity, a new study shows that certain community characteristics also play important roles. American communities with more fast food restaurants, a larger share of extraction industry-based jobs, or higher population density have shorter life expectancies, according to researchers from the Northeast Center and West Virginia and Michigan State Universities. Their findings can help communities identify and implement changes that may promote longer lifespans among their residents.
- Read the full news release on community factors and life expectancy.
- Read the Social Science and Medicine paper: Dobis, Elizabeth A., Heather M. Stephens, Mark Skidmore, and Stephan J. Goetz. “Explaining the Spatial Variation in American Life Expectancy.” Social Science & Medicine 246 (February 2020): 112759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112759.