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Report on the Competitiveness of Puerto Rico's Economy

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June 29, 2012

The challenge to policymakers is to marshal the Island’s considerable strengths to raise living standards and restore growth. In this report, we identify five factors that in our view pose significant competitive challenges to the Island:

Improving Labor Market Opportunities Puerto Rico’s labor force participation rate is among the lowest in the world, with less than half of eligible workers participating in the formal economy. Moreover, the unemployment rate has been persistently well above the U.S. mainland’s, and is especially high for the young and less educated. Developing Human Capital Although the Island’s workforce overall is among the world’s most educated, Puerto Rico still lags the U.S. mainland, and there is a particularly high abundance of low-skilled workers. There are also growing concerns that the quality of the education system has deteriorated, especially at the primary and secondary levels. Reducing the Costs of Doing Business The business environment in Puerto Rico makes it costly and cumbersome to establish and grow new businesses and expand existing ones. In particular, regulations, the elevated cost of electricity, and an underdeveloped and costly transportation infrastructure are barriers to a more dynamic environment. Mobilizing Finance for Business Development and Growth Weak banks and limited alternatives to bank funding have reduced credit availability to local businesses. Lowering Dependence on a Shrinking Industry Tax incentives led to an outsized presence of the pharmaceuticals industry on the Island. The incentives have been phased out and employment in the industry has declined. Going forward, there appears to be only a limited prospect for the sector to be a driver of growth.