The goal of the C. William Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy is to lead a nationally and internationally recognized research, teaching, and outreach program focused on priority issues related to rural and urban communities and their growth.
Led by Professor Gabriel Lade, the Swank Program combines innovative approaches in economic theory and econometrics to create valuable insights for the academic community, stakeholders, policymakers, students, and the public. In turn, the Swank Program will help inform and facilitate teaching and student research at Ohio State and elsewhere.
Current research priority areas include:
- The quality of rural, exurban, and urban life
- The economic impacts and effectiveness of agro-environmental and biofuels policies
- The pattern, pace, and impact of development at the rural-urban fringe