Journal Article
Investing in the Great Outdoors
Sablik, Timothy (2024-04)
While the appeal of Mother Nature has always been self-evident to enthusiasts, the COVID-19 pandemic brought in new converts. Once it became clear that the virus spread less easily in open spaces, and with many indoor options shut down, outdoor recreation became a compelling option for anyone looking to escape their home or apartment in 2020.In addition to visiting state parks and trails in record numbers, many Americans moved from cities to suburbs, small towns, and rural places in search of more open spaces. According to a March 2023 report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing ...
Econ Focus , Volume 24 , Issue 1Q/2Q , Pages 6-9

Journal Article
District Digest: Understanding SNAP's Role
Cook, Carrie; Norris, Stephanie; Sanchez, Alvaro; Scavette, Adam (2024-04)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a key component of the United States' social safety net and supports millions of Americans annually by providing food vouchers for households with low income and assets. SNAP supports households enduring persistent poverty as well as those temporarily in economic distress, as its enrollment expands during recessions to accommodate the unemployed. Economists Robert Moffitt of Johns Hopkins University and James Ziliak of the University of Kentucky have explained that SNAP operates like an automatic stabilizer — that is, a counterweight ...
Econ Focus , Volume 24 , Issue 1Q/2Q , Pages 27-30

Journal Article
At the Richmond Fed: Collaborating to Improve Rural Access to Capital
Gerena, Charles (2024-04)
Small towns and rural communities play a key role in the Fifth District's economy. Not only do they make up nearly one-quarter of the region, they also have important economic ties to neighboring cities and counties.That's why the Richmond Fed is addressing the economic health of rural areas as part of its broader mission of strengthening the economy. Working with partners on the local, regional, and national levels, the Bank's Community Development team recently launched the Rural Investment Collaborative to increase economic investment in small towns and rural communities throughout the ...
Econ Focus , Volume 24 , Issue 1Q/2Q , Pages 4