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Title: Economic Transition and Social Inequality in Early Twentieth Century Puerto Rico
Citation Type: Conference Paper
Publication Year: 2006
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Abstract: Using historical census data from 1899, 1910 and 1920, this chapter employs spatio-temporal data analysis techniques to estimate the influence of U.S.- led changes in crop production, namely sugar and coffee, on the distribution of racial inequality in literacy ratios across Puerto Rican municipios. Significant development in the islands infrastructure, including educational institutions, accompanied investments in crop expansion. Sugar was the primary focus of U.S. interests and its production was organized around a plantation system historically dependent on racial subordination. Two competing theses concerning how expansion influenced racial inequality are tested: the stratifying thesis, which argues sugar expansion would increase racial inequality by perpetuating the plantation system; and the equalizing thesis, which asserts sugar expansion would decrease racial inequality through infrastructure development resulting from high capital in-flows. Results support the equalizing thesis. Implications for the Puerto Rican case and the study of space and time in historical demographic research are discussed.
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Authors: Curtis, Katherine, J
Conference Name: IUSSP Workshop on Space and Time in Historical Demographic Research: New Methods and Models
Publisher Location: Minneapolis, MN
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Migration and Immigration
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