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A few months ago I discussed this with friends and suggested the government subsidize cheap flights to Puerto Rico, say $30 for a round trip flight from Atlanta

A few months ago I discussed this with friends and suggested the government subsidize cheap flights to Puerto Rico, say $30 for a round trip flight from Atlanta, scaled up depending on domestic distance. This would cost taxpayer money but would drive a ton of tourism to Puerto Rico (albeit temporarily) and pump a bunch of money into their economy, defibrillator style. I've never been there but given a cheap round trip flight I would easily go and spend money. The alternative appears to be some kind of bailout and/or debt restructuring and I don't see that working out in the long term, which would presumably cost taxpayers even more money.

emodendroket 10y ago
Probably recreating the tax climate that attracted pharmaceutical manufacturers and was allowed to lapse would be more effective than trying to gin up tourism (although in my opinion probably that wouldn't be all that helpful either).
- mgbmtl 10y ago
  Lowering taxes only works if you can combine it with something else that will keep the companies in place afterwards, such as a critical mass of specialized workers, infrastructure, etc. Otherwise it's just playing the downward-spiral game in a saturated market. The federal government should create a 10-year plan to subsidize PR and fix its economy/democracy from the ground up. If you look at Eastern Europe, it takes a long time. One specific hack won't fix this, that's magical thinking, and usually from corrupted politicians turfing their funders.
  - dmix 10y ago
    > that's magical thinking, and usually from corrupted politicians turfing their funders. Subsidization is the game that corrupt politicians love. Not so much lowering taxes (and therefore their power to choose the beneficiaries among their friends/special interests). Unless of course the tax reduction is via a myriad of specialized loopholes and deductions, then it could be directed at a chosen few.
    - emodendroket 10y ago
      Spending money and cutting taxes are essentially equivalent, though.
  - emodendroket 10y ago
    Well, nevertheless, the exodus of the pharmaceutical industry was a disaster. I agree that something more serious is needed but obviously the federal government is more concerned with making sure a handful of well-placed people can profit handsomely off their high-risk investments in Puerto Rican bonds.
leesalminen 10y ago
I flew from DEN to SJU a couple weeks ago on 2 days notice. Flights were cheaper than going to SFO or PDX.
dluan 10y ago
PR doesn't need more tourists, they need to see a chance at a strong and healthy economy without a massive guillotine hanging over its head. Bumping tourism would help relieve just a few drops but it's a swimming pool, not just a glass of water.
ryandrake 10y ago
If your goal is to pump money into their economy, why not pump it directly instead of subsidizing some industry and hoping that somehow the "pumping" happens indirectly? Trickle-down mentality is still alive and well, sadly.
desdiv 10y ago
>The CDC has issued an alert for travel to areas where Zika virus is spreading, which now includes Miami-Dade County, Florida, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands. Travelers who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should consult a doctor.[0] Let's just send cash over instead of tourists. Less chance of unintended consequences. [0] https://www.cdc.gov/zika/ https://www.cdc.gov/zika/
- rovr138 10y ago
  I don't plan on having kids soon, > Q: I was in a place with risk of Zika recently. How long do I need to wait after returning to get pregnant? > A: Men who have traveled to a place with a CDC Zika travel notice should wait at least 6 months after travel (or 6 months after symptoms started if they get sick) before trying to conceive with their partner. Women should wait at least 8 weeks after travel (or 8 weeks after symptoms started if they get sick) before trying to get pregnant. https://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/questions.html https://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/questions.html
  - desdiv 10y ago
    If you catch Zika and return home, any mosquito that bites you will get infected as well, and will in turn infect other people[0], some of whom might be pregnant. Granted, someone from the continental U.S. dying of Zika is about as likely as them being eaten by sharks (less than 1 death per 300 million people per year[1][2]). [0] https://www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/ https://www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/ [1] http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/08/health/utah-zika-death/ http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/08/health/utah-zika-death/ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal,_unprovoked_shark_attacks_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal,_unprovoked_shar...
entwife 10y ago
Cheap flights would work even better if (1) given to people with portable/remote jobs that can be done in Puerto Rico and (2) it is actually a paradise, or at least in the view of people with portable jobs. I could remote work from PR; have never been there, and it's likely not my style. But some of my co workers moved back home once it was allowed. What are income taxes in PR?
- rovr138 10y ago
  If you work remote for a company and are filing in PR, you need to pay Medicare, Social Security and taxes to Hacienda. http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/sites/default/files/tablas_retencion_2017_2.pdf http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/sites/default/files/tablas_r... Simple one, http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/individuos/contribucion-sobre-ingresos/informacion-para-radicar-la-planilla/como-calcular-su-contribucion http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/individuos/contribucion-sobr... Last column translates to, > In excess of $61,500; $8,430 + 33% in excess of the $61,500

emodendroket 10y ago

Probably recreating the tax climate that attracted pharmaceutical manufacturers and was allowed to lapse would be more effective than trying to gin up tourism (although in my opinion probably that wouldn't be all that helpful either).

mgbmtl 10y ago
Lowering taxes only works if you can combine it with something else that will keep the companies in place afterwards, such as a critical mass of specialized workers, infrastructure, etc. Otherwise it's just playing the downward-spiral game in a saturated market. The federal government should create a 10-year plan to subsidize PR and fix its economy/democracy from the ground up. If you look at Eastern Europe, it takes a long time. One specific hack won't fix this, that's magical thinking, and usually from corrupted politicians turfing their funders.
- dmix 10y ago
  > that's magical thinking, and usually from corrupted politicians turfing their funders. Subsidization is the game that corrupt politicians love. Not so much lowering taxes (and therefore their power to choose the beneficiaries among their friends/special interests). Unless of course the tax reduction is via a myriad of specialized loopholes and deductions, then it could be directed at a chosen few.
  - emodendroket 10y ago
    Spending money and cutting taxes are essentially equivalent, though.
- emodendroket 10y ago
  Well, nevertheless, the exodus of the pharmaceutical industry was a disaster. I agree that something more serious is needed but obviously the federal government is more concerned with making sure a handful of well-placed people can profit handsomely off their high-risk investments in Puerto Rican bonds.

leesalminen 10y ago

I flew from DEN to SJU a couple weeks ago on 2 days notice. Flights were cheaper than going to SFO or PDX.

dluan 10y ago

PR doesn't need more tourists, they need to see a chance at a strong and healthy economy without a massive guillotine hanging over its head. Bumping tourism would help relieve just a few drops but it's a swimming pool, not just a glass of water.

ryandrake 10y ago

If your goal is to pump money into their economy, why not pump it directly instead of subsidizing some industry and hoping that somehow the "pumping" happens indirectly? Trickle-down mentality is still alive and well, sadly.

desdiv 10y ago

>The CDC has issued an alert for travel to areas where Zika virus is spreading, which now includes Miami-Dade County, Florida, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands. Travelers who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should consult a doctor.[0] Let's just send cash over instead of tourists. Less chance of unintended consequences. [0] https://www.cdc.gov/zika/ https://www.cdc.gov/zika/

rovr138 10y ago
I don't plan on having kids soon, > Q: I was in a place with risk of Zika recently. How long do I need to wait after returning to get pregnant? > A: Men who have traveled to a place with a CDC Zika travel notice should wait at least 6 months after travel (or 6 months after symptoms started if they get sick) before trying to conceive with their partner. Women should wait at least 8 weeks after travel (or 8 weeks after symptoms started if they get sick) before trying to get pregnant. https://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/questions.html https://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/questions.html
- desdiv 10y ago
  If you catch Zika and return home, any mosquito that bites you will get infected as well, and will in turn infect other people[0], some of whom might be pregnant. Granted, someone from the continental U.S. dying of Zika is about as likely as them being eaten by sharks (less than 1 death per 300 million people per year[1][2]). [0] https://www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/ https://www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/ [1] http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/08/health/utah-zika-death/ http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/08/health/utah-zika-death/ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal,_unprovoked_shark_attacks_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal,_unprovoked_shar...

entwife 10y ago

Cheap flights would work even better if (1) given to people with portable/remote jobs that can be done in Puerto Rico and (2) it is actually a paradise, or at least in the view of people with portable jobs. I could remote work from PR; have never been there, and it's likely not my style. But some of my co workers moved back home once it was allowed. What are income taxes in PR?

rovr138 10y ago
If you work remote for a company and are filing in PR, you need to pay Medicare, Social Security and taxes to Hacienda. http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/sites/default/files/tablas_retencion_2017_2.pdf http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/sites/default/files/tablas_r... Simple one, http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/individuos/contribucion-sobre-ingresos/informacion-para-radicar-la-planilla/como-calcular-su-contribucion http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/individuos/contribucion-sobr... Last column translates to, > In excess of $61,500; $8,430 + 33% in excess of the $61,500