Riding the resource roller coaster: A comparison of socioeconomic well-being in two midwestern metal-mining communities

The impact of mining on the socioeconomic well-being of the surrounding areas remains disputed and unclear, with academic researchers and policy makers alike debating whether or not mining is “good” for an area. A closer look at the literature suggests that the best answer to that persistent debate is “It depends.” This dissertation examines more closely the factors on which the impacts depend and likens the experience of being mining dependent to riding a roller coaster.; To illustrate the usefulness of this metaphor, the paper examines the experiences of two recent metal-mining communities in the Midwest. While both areas rode resource roller coasters, the data suggest—and the responses of the residents of the communities confirm—that one area experienced far more volatility than the other. The characteristics of the regions, companies, and the resources help to explain the different experiences of the two communities. To offer just one example, the location of the ore-bodies influenced the commuting patterns of the workforces at both mines, thereby concentrating the impacts of mining in one of the two regions and dispersing them in the other. Factors affecting economic development in mining areas are also explored. Importantly, the location of the community and its relationship with the company, among other factors, influence the ability of the town to diversify its economy.; The dissertation concludes that paying greater attention to the context in which communities ride the resource roller coaster may help clarify under what conditions mining is good or bad for an area. Such knowledge has implications for both sociology and policy. Sociologists will likely gain a better understanding of what produces the diversity in socioeconomic indicators in mining areas, thereby enhancing our broader studies of well-being, culture, and change in these communities. Additionally, a clarification of the impacts of mining and how they may change over time may help policy makers identify those alterable characteristics and responses that may produce a smoother ride on the resource roller coaster. In turn, this smoother ride may provide greater stability and better opportunities for long term economic development.