Welcome to RRI

The Regional Research Institute was founded in 1965. Professor William H. Miernyk, a regional economist trained at Harvard, came to West Virginia University as founding director. His pioneering research on input-output modeling rapidly brought the Institute international prominence in regional economics and the new multidisciplinary field of regional science.

Our research focuses on theories and history of regional development, methods for studying regions, and policies for stimulating their development. We seek to advance our understanding of socioeconomic processes and our ability to explain regional differences in rates of growth and levels of development. RRI activities are both national and international in scope. Our area interests cover the globe, with a special focus on our own Appalachian region.

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