Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Imprisoning Appalachia: The Socioeconomic Impacts of Prison Development
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
In the last twenty-five years, the number of prisons in central Appalachia has grown dramatically. Seeking to bring jobs and development to their communities, many policymakers view the industry as an economic lifeline. The passage of time allows us to examine the validity of this claim. Here we measure the socioeconomic impacts of the prison boom in central Appalachia, analyzing per capita income, poverty and unemployment rates in central Appalachian counties that have opened a prison since 1989. Perhaps surprisingly, we find no statistically significant difference in prison counties and non-prison counties along these measures, challenging the notion that prisons are an engine of growth for the region. When factoring in the opportunity costs of adopting this development pathway rather than other, more sustainable options, the viability of prison development is called into question. When coupled with reports of violence and abuse linked to the industry, it becomes clear that policymakers should hesitate and examine the socioeconomic impacts of this strategy before inviting a prison into their community.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Robert is an Assistant Professor at Appalachian State University. Much of his research focuses on resource extraction and economic development in central Appalachia.
Imprisoning Appalachia: The Socioeconomic Impacts of Prison Development
In the last twenty-five years, the number of prisons in central Appalachia has grown dramatically. Seeking to bring jobs and development to their communities, many policymakers view the industry as an economic lifeline. The passage of time allows us to examine the validity of this claim. Here we measure the socioeconomic impacts of the prison boom in central Appalachia, analyzing per capita income, poverty and unemployment rates in central Appalachian counties that have opened a prison since 1989. Perhaps surprisingly, we find no statistically significant difference in prison counties and non-prison counties along these measures, challenging the notion that prisons are an engine of growth for the region. When factoring in the opportunity costs of adopting this development pathway rather than other, more sustainable options, the viability of prison development is called into question. When coupled with reports of violence and abuse linked to the industry, it becomes clear that policymakers should hesitate and examine the socioeconomic impacts of this strategy before inviting a prison into their community.
