Youth Homicide Highlights Social Instability

Puerto Rico's political risk profile continues to suffer at the hands of high crime and murder rates, which stand out even by regional standards (including Central America). Indeed, the World Health Organisation's world report on violence and health suggests that youth homicides have been at 538 in 2002 (most recent data available), implying a per capita youth murder rate of 41.8 - ranking Puerto Rico third out of 57 states (only behind Colombia and El Salvador). Not only does this suggest a serious threat to broader social stability, but we note that Puerto Rico's youth homicide rate also reflects deeper social imbalances and thus significantly limits the island's scope to become an attractive destination for foreign direct investment any time soon.

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