ABSTRACT
Globalization of the world economy has been gaining momentum for many years, but widespread recognition of its scale and manifestations has occurred only more. It is hazardous to predict the future course of events in the Great Plains under the impact of globalization and deregulation. Climatic marginality will remain an enduring legacy of Great Plains settlement. In summary, the 125 year history of European settlement on the Great Plains has been marked by an emphasis on export oriented agriculture. Unfortunately, the Great Plains has rarely been treated as a statistical reporting unit, so it can be necessary to rely on data based upon the ten states. The production of wheat and beef in the Great Plains substantially increased the nation’s output of these commodities. Government involvement in the affairs of rural areas such as the Great Plains dealt mostly with infrastructural improvements.
