In a year that tested nearly every facet of U.S. infrastructure, Bucknell s backyard served as a compelling case study for economics research exploring the revitalization of rural America post-pandemic.
When global supply chains were massively disrupted amid the spread of COVID-19, America s dependence on foreign imports was brought into sharp focus for Professor Christine Ngo, economics. The necessity of strong, robust domestic manufacturing to curb the economic crisis was made even clearer. Manufacturing in rural America can be overlooked because of this misconception that economic opportunities don t exist in these areas, but these businesses actually perform quite well, says Ngo, whose interests include the political economy of development, industrialization and international trade. However, manufacturing also faces several challenges that stifle its growth on the whole. That stagnation increases the American economy s vulnerability in crises like COVID-19.