Rust Belt

Definition

The Rust Belt refers to a region in the Northeastern and Midwestern US that was once dominated by manufacturing industries, but has seen economic decline, population loss, and urban decay due to the shrinking of its once-powerful industrial sector.

Analogy

Think of the Rust Belt like an old, once shiny car. It used to be new and powerful, driving the economy with its strong engine (manufacturing industry). But over time, it's become rusty and less efficient as newer models (other sectors or regions) have taken over.

Related terms

Industrialization: The process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods.

Deindustrialization: A process of social and economic change caused by the removal or reduction of industrial capacity or activity in a country or region.

Urban Decay: The process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude.