The Causes and Consequences of Puerto Rico's Declining Population

8 Pages Posted: 10 Aug 2014

See all articles by Jaison R. Abel

Jaison R. Abel

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Richard Deitz

Federal Reserve Bank of New York - Research Group

Date Written: August 1, 2014

Abstract

Puerto Rico’s population has been falling for nearly a decade, and the pace of decline has accelerated in recent years. Although a slowdown in the island’s birthrate has contributed to this decline, a surge in the out-migration of its citizens has been a more important factor. The exodus — which includes a large share of younger people — has hastened population aging, but it has not necessarily led to a “brain drain.” To counter its population loss, Puerto Rico must not only adopt measures to shore up its economy and expand job opportunities, but also enact fiscal reforms and improve the island’s amenities.

Keywords: Puerto Rico, brain drain, population decline, migration

JEL Classification: J10, J24, R10

Suggested Citation

Abel, Jaison R. and Deitz, Richard, The Causes and Consequences of Puerto Rico's Declining Population (August 1, 2014). Current Issues in Economics and Finance, Vol. 20, No. 4, 2014, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2477891

Jaison R. Abel

Federal Reserve Bank of New York ( email )

33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045
United States

Richard Deitz (Contact Author)

Federal Reserve Bank of New York - Research Group ( email )

33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045
United States

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