Reference no: EM132892131

The United States economic status in regards to the national unemployment rate as of December 2010 was 9.4 percent and January 2015 data show that it stands at 5.7%. The unemployment rate in 2010 for the state of Mississippi was 10.1 percent and currently stands at 7.2%. Regardless of the growing economy nationwide, the Mississippi Delta is disproportionately suffering from higher unemployment rates. For example, the unemployment rate for most Delta counties including Leflore, Sunflower, Humphreys, Washington and Coahoma is above 11% based on January 2015 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Please provide an essay which discusses the impact of the unemployment rate on communities in the rural Mississippi Delta. In so doing please provide definitions and an analysis of the following: rural, public policy, the various stages of the public policy process which may be used to address this issue, the role of intergovernmental relations in addressing this issue and any relevant scholarly research.