Effect of Metropolitan Reclassification on Economic Indicators for Metro and Nonmetro Areas

摘要

Comparisons of socioeconomic conditions in metro and nonmetro counties can be affected by the particular metro/nonmetro classification used. More recent classifications (those with more metro and fewer nonmetro counties), when compared with older ones, tend to indicate slower economic growth in nonmetro counties and faster growth in metro areas. Reclassification affects metro/nonmetro comparisons of economic structure and material well-being much less. It affects nonmetro indicators more than metro indicators because the transition counties (nonmetro counties reclassified as metro counties) make up a larger part of the originating group of nonmetro counties than the receiving group of metro counties.