than most other Hispanics. The paradox of the relatively low level of remittances
to Puerto Rico, despite a high outmigration rate, warrants further investigation. This essay
compares remittance patterns among Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Mexicans in the
United States. In particular, it assesses the impact of transfer payments from the U.S.
government on Puerto Rican remittances. A plausible explanation for the low level of private
transfers of Puerto Ricans is that public disbursements, especially for nutritional assistance,
housing subsidies, and educational grants, play the safety net role in Puerto Rico that
remittances do elsewhere. Furthermore, most Puerto Ricans have unemployment and
disability insurance, and many have earned benefits such as Social Security, Medicare, and
veterans’ pensions. Finally, because of Puerto Rico’s relatively high standard of living, many
migrants do not feel as obliged to send money to their relatives as Mexicans or Dominicans.
The broader implications for the transnational ties between Puerto Ricans on and off the
Island are examined and compared with the other two groups