The Geography of High Gas Prices

Looks like it's going to be a gasoline-themed week this week; it's on your minds, it's definitely on ours, so let's run with it, shall we?

Today's view comes from the International Herald Tribune, observing how although the national average is now over $4.00/gallon, the pain at the pump is much more acute in rural regions across the US.

People are giving up meat so they can buy fuel. Gasoline theft is rising. And drivers are running out of gas more often, leaving their cars by the side of the road until they can scrape together gasoline money.

The disparity between rural America and the rest of the country is a matter of simple home economics. Nationwide, Americans now spend about 4 percent of their take-home income on gasoline. By contrast, in some counties in the Mississippi Delta, that figure has surpassed 13 percent.

As a result, gasoline expenses are rivaling what families spend on food and housing.

The article explains many factors that led to this standard. Rural areas are by nature spread wide and far-flung, with many workers having long commutes over less-maintained roads, and often in older, larger vehicles with suitable awful mileage. Jobs are scarce enough in rural areas, and workers may have little choice but to seek work hours away. Economists are saying that if this keeps up, it could accelerate the loss of population and tax base to urban jobs, even reaching the point where working less would be the most economically viable choice for those that remain.

It's a pretty dicey, touch-and-go situation. I don't know if any readers out there want to offer their input, but I know I'd like to hear it.