Publication Date

2016-05-23

Availability

Open access

Embargo Period

2016-05-23

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Sociology (Arts and Sciences)

Date of Defense

2016-05-03

First Committee Member

John W. Murphy

Second Committee Member

Linda Liska Belgrave

Third Committee Member

Bruce M. Bagley

Abstract

The Puerto Rican Popular Democratic Party’s (PPD) 2012 governmental platform and interviews with party officials were evaluated from the perspective of developmental theories, including Amartya Sen’s Capabilities Approach, Neoliberalism and Developmentalism. This study aimed to determine whether the international prevalence of a gap between developmental theory and practice is reflected in the case of economic policymaking in Puerto Rico. The key finding is that the PPD is ambivalent on developmental theory and, as a result, promotes both Developmentalist and Neoliberal policies, with a greater emphasis on the latter. Further, this mixing of theories could explain developmental inefficiency and/or failure. A Developmentalist set of policy recommendations is enclosed.

Keywords

Popular Democratic Party; development; economic development; developmental theory; economic policy; Puerto Rico; neoliberalism; developmentalism

Download

Share

COinS