The quality of life compared between Puerto Ricans on the Island and Mainland: Economic convergence, migration, and English proficiency

Ricardo Godoy, Irineu de Carvalho Filho and J. Tomas Hexner (jenkins@econ.queensu.ca)
Additional contact information
Ricardo Godoy: Heller Graduate School, Brandeis University
J. Tomas Hexner: President of Hex, Inc.Founder and director, Science Initiative Group at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, New Jersey
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Glenn Paul Jenkins (jenkins@econ.queensu.ca)

No 2001-02, Development Discussion Papers from JDI Executive Programs

Abstract: This article explores how length of residence on the mainland and knowledge of English might affect the quality of life among Puerto Ricans. The subject was explored in two ways. First, the 1990 census of Puerto Rico and the mainland was used to divide the population into various groups such as permanent residents in Puerto Rico and the mainland and various migrants; migrants were grouped by their length of stay on the island. Second, proficiency in English was used as a proxy for assimilation and estimates the contribution of English proficiency to various indicators of the quality of life, such as earnings and dependence on public assistance. In the conclusion we explored the possible reason for the finding and discussed the implications of the finding for future migration flow from Puerto Rico to the mainland, for language policy in Puerto Rico, and for the future of Puerto Rican culture and society on the Island.

Keywords: : Economic convergence; migration; English proficiency; Puerto Rico (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O1 O2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 57 pages
Date: 2001-02
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:qed:dpaper:4557

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