Published monthly, Story Behind the Numbers articles explore the North Central Region by delving into regional and national databases on a variety of topics  – providing another way to see and understand our region.
mother caring for a child \in a wheelchair

Variations in caregivers’ health and well-being in the North Central Region / Research Snapshot

Posted on August 29th, 2024

Elena Pojman, Pennsylvania State University, Florence Becot, Pennsylvania State University, and Shoshanah Inwood, The Ohio State University Caregiving can be…
image of a man taking a test in a classroom

The relationship between education and happiness: Findings from the North Central and Northeast Regions / Research Brief

Posted on July 31st, 2024

Zuzana Bednarik, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development Abstract This paper analyzes how education and other demographic characteristics are…
Daughter holds a spoon in front of elderly mother to help her eat soup.

The economic and social well-being of caregivers in the North Central Region / Research Snapshot

Posted on July 10th, 2024

Florence Becot, Pennsylvania State University and Shoshanah Inwood, The Ohio State University Caregiving is a common experience Almost four in…
Older woman with gray selecting a yellow pepper in a grocery store. Text reads, "Research Brief"

The impact of food sufficiency on the health status: The case of households in the North Central Region / Research Brief

Posted on July 5th, 2024

Antara Chowdhury, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, Purdue University Abstract Food sufficiency is positively associated with self-evaluated health…
Image of a family of hands of different again wrapped around each other. Wording on the banner reads, "Research Brief"

The Age-Dependency Ratio in the North Central Region: Implications for Regional and Community Development / Research Brief

Posted on January 18th, 2024

By Roberto Gallardo, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics Department, Purdue University Background The federal government invests in place-based policies, such as…
Areal view of a rural community in the North Central Region.

The impact of health disparities on the subjective well-being in rural communities / Research Brief

Posted on December 15th, 2023

By Zuzana Bednarik Executive Summary The relationship between the place where people live, their health, and subjective well-being represents a…
African Woman Video Conference Business Call

How COVID-19 Changed Workforce Participation Preferences in the North Central Region

Posted on September 18th, 2023

By Ivanna Carrillo-Siller Workplace preferences before and after the COVID-19 pandemic As the world began to shut down at the…
view of the outside of a hospital with a sign pointing to the Emergency entrance.

Unraveling Local Living: A Peek into the Diverse Preferences of Family Households with and without Children

Posted on September 18th, 2023

By Alejandra Armesto Gómez The significance of certain amenities within the local community cannot be overstated. Beyond the provision of…

How often do households in the North Central Region run out of food?

Posted on June 5th, 2023

By Antara Chowdhury The NCR-Stat: Baseline Survey includes a section related to community food security in the North Central Region…
female warehouse worker in cab of forklift

Perception of Equal Employment Opportunities in Communities of the North Central Region

Posted on June 2nd, 2023

By Ivanna Carrillo-Siller The NCR-Stat Baseline Survey includes several questions related to perception of diversity, equity, and inclusion in North…
Image of a balanced seesaw that has five balls with persoon icon applied distributed evenly to imply treating people fairly.

Does your local community treat all residents fairly? Perspectives from the North Central Region

Posted on May 31st, 2023

By Alejandra Armesto Gómez In the 2022 NCR-Stat: Baseline Survey, the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) included…
illustration of a group of diverse people all standing in profile.

How does the North Central Region perceive residents from different cultures and belief systems?

Posted on April 25th, 2023

By Alejandra Armesto Gómez In the 2022 NCR-Stat: Baseline Survey, the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) included…

How happy are people in the North Central Region?

Posted on April 17th, 2023

By Zuzana Bednarik, Ph.D. A better understanding of what makes people happy means identifying determinants of happiness. Research on happiness…
High school students taking test - see a woman's hand holding a pencil

Perception of Equal Access to Education in Communities of the North Central Region

Posted on March 22nd, 2023

By Ivanna Carrillo-Siller In the 2022 NCR-Stat Baseline Survey, the NCRCRD examined people’s perception of diversity, equity, and inclusion in…

Protecting Environment in the North Central Region

Posted on March 14th, 2023

By Antara Chowdhury The 2022 NCR-Stat: Baseline Survey includes two questions related to environmental protection. [1]  Survey participants in the…

Story Behind the Number Archive