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Recession Civics
By Jon Greenberg on Thursday, November 19, 2009.
This week, as part of our series on the economy, Working It Out, we’re asking the question, has this recession changed us. The Carsey Institute at the University New Hampshire just released a study that examines a particular slice of that question. It looks at the impact of the recession on civic life. New Hampshire Public Radio’s Jon Greenberg has more.
The downturn has squeezed many families very hard, making it tough to buy groceries or pay the rent. People who are at least a little better off have responded to the need. The survey by the National Conference on Citizenship found that over 40 percent of Granite Staters said they helped relatives with food or money; over half gave the same sort of help to strangers.
A few went even further. About one out of five said they opened their home and took in a relative. Almost as many said they did that for a non-relative. Michelle Dillon, a UNH sociologist and co-author of the report, says these answers make her want to know to more.
DILLON INTERVIEW SEGMENT
Michelle Dillon co-authored the 2009 New Hampshire Civic Health Index. Dillon notes that compared to people nationally, residents of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are more likely to open their homes to people who need a place to stay.
For NHPR News, I’m Jon Greenberg.
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