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CEA emphasizes importance of Rural America

The President’s Council of Economic Advisors released a report this morning on Strengthening the Rural Economy. It comes at the start of the Midwest leg of President Obama’s “White House to Main Street Tour.” CEA chair Christina Romer told reporters the strength of agriculture is evident in the report – because it shows not only the efficiency of American producers, it shows, “The degree to which agriculture in the United States is substantially more productive than in other high income countries and I think that’s an important success story to highlight. It’s also something that shows up in our exports that agricultural goods are a very important export for the United States.

Romer says the White House policy is to reinforce job growth, infrastructure, health and education investments and to support and encourage agriculture in rural America. Romer says much has been accomplished already for rural America through the administration’s tax cuts and Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.

She says President Obama’s visit to Illinois, Iowa and Missouri this week underscores his commitment to policies that will strengthen and grow rural America.