Factors of Institutional Maladjustment in the Great Plains, with Particular Reference to Credit Institutions in Boone County, Nebraska

This study has two major purposes.The first purpose is to develop the institutional nature of the economic problems that beset portions of the Great Plains and to formulate theoretical objectives of adjustment.In doing this the institutional structure of a specific county in Central Nebraska has been examined.Boone County has been selected for this examination. The second purpose is to inspect a specific part of the institutional structure of Boone County.Credit arrangements and policy in the county have been examined in fulfillment of this objective.This has been done in an effort to determine the relationship that exists between credit policy and maladjustments in land utilization. Testing of these hypothesis has been carried out through a survey of credit agencies in Boone County.Analysis of this data applies to lending policies of credit institutions in this county but is significant for the entire Great Plains region where similar problems exist. Several conclusions can be drawn from the interpretation of data secured in the Boone County credit survey.There is not as great a variability in credit policy as was originally thought.The majority of the banks have a tendency to think that the Farmer’s Home Administration should fill up the gap in stress periods.Loans are available for conservation purposes but they are not easily obtained for other adjustment measures.There is one all inclusive measure of credit eligibility in Boone County credit institutions exclusive of government and cooperative agencies.This was described in the survey as “character of the borrower.”It seems to simply amount to the credit officer’s impression of the loan applicant’s relative credit standing in the community. Advisors: Kristjan Kristjanson and Don Kane