Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A wide-ranging study conducted by researchers at Alabama State University shows great disparities in the quality of life in different areas of Alabama.
In the study by ASU's Center for Leadership and Public Policy, researchers studied poverty, health care, crime, education and other quality-of-life issues in all 67 counties.
The executive director of the center, Thomas Vocino, said the study found "there's a strong relationship between the quality of education and whether that county has a vibrant economy."
The study found the highest quality of life in suburban Birmingham's Shelby County, followed by Madison and Baldwin counties. The lowest quality of life was in Greene, Wilcox and Dallas counties in the economically depressed Black Belt region.
The study found that the economy was the strongest in Shelby, Madison, Jefferson and Baldwin counties, while the weakest economies were in Wilcox, Perry, Greene and Bullock counties, all in the Black Belt.
The study rated the counties in education based on dropout rates, standardized test scores and other factors. The study found education the strongest in Shelby, Madison and Jefferson counties — that's the same counties that the study found had the best economies.
The study concludes that the best way to improve the quality of life in poorer Alabama counties is to make improvements in education such as "reducing the dropout rate and making sure students have better access to four-year colleges.
The study also found that preventable health care problems such as diabetes and obesity are lowering the quality of life for many Alabama residents.
The study found residents of Baldwin, Limestone, Dale, Elmore and Cleburne counties have the best health care, but that residents of mostly rural Barbour County in southeast Alabama live to an average age of 78.9 years, the highest life expectancy in the state. But the study shows that even in Barbour County, life expectancy pales to other countries. The life expectancy in Japan is 83.2 years and 81.9 years in Australia.
In the study by ASU's Center for Leadership and Public Policy, researchers studied poverty, health care, crime, education and other quality-of-life issues in all 67 counties.
The executive director of the center, Thomas Vocino, said the study found "there's a strong relationship between the quality of education and whether that county has a vibrant economy."
The study found the highest quality of life in suburban Birmingham's Shelby County, followed by Madison and Baldwin counties. The lowest quality of life was in Greene, Wilcox and Dallas counties in the economically depressed Black Belt region.
The study found that the economy was the strongest in Shelby, Madison, Jefferson and Baldwin counties, while the weakest economies were in Wilcox, Perry, Greene and Bullock counties, all in the Black Belt.
The study rated the counties in education based on dropout rates, standardized test scores and other factors. The study found education the strongest in Shelby, Madison and Jefferson counties — that's the same counties that the study found had the best economies.
The study concludes that the best way to improve the quality of life in poorer Alabama counties is to make improvements in education such as "reducing the dropout rate and making sure students have better access to four-year colleges.
The study also found that preventable health care problems such as diabetes and obesity are lowering the quality of life for many Alabama residents.
The study found residents of Baldwin, Limestone, Dale, Elmore and Cleburne counties have the best health care, but that residents of mostly rural Barbour County in southeast Alabama live to an average age of 78.9 years, the highest life expectancy in the state. But the study shows that even in Barbour County, life expectancy pales to other countries. The life expectancy in Japan is 83.2 years and 81.9 years in Australia.
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