How Big Is Big Coal? Public Perceptions of the Coal Industry's Economic Impact in West Virginia

被引:21
作者
Blaacker, Debra [1 ]
Woods, Joshua [1 ]
Oliver, Christopher [2 ]
机构
[1] W Virginia Univ, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
[2] Univ Kentucky, Dept Sociol, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
关键词
coal industry; risks; benefits; economic impact; ideology; Friends of Coal; college student population; West Virginia; social factors; SAVANNA RIVER SITE; RISK PERCEPTIONS; PERCEIVED RISK; INVOLVEMENT; PERSUASION; TOWN;
D O I
10.1177/1086026612464766
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
The coal industry has played a major role in the culture and history of the state of West Virginia, establishing an identity as the "backbone" of the economy in this region. However, as the mining process has become more mechanized, employment has declined and risks have increased, but support for the industry continues. This study explores research that could provide explanations for this phenomenon and examines whether there is an overestimation of the role of the coal industry in the regional economy. We also examine factors that may affect one's perceptions of the economic impact of the industry. In particular, certain demographic qualities or ideological tendencies described in previous work by Bell and York are shown to have some effect on these perceptions.
引用
收藏
页码:385 / 401
页数:17
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