Puerto Rico: The Economic Case for Sovereignty

In this book, Javier A. Hernández explains in detail how Puerto Rico can transform itself from a dependent and bankrupt colonial economy to a thriving, stable, and internationally-focused national economy with the powers and tools of sovereignty, either as an independent nation or a sovereign nation in a free association relationship with the United States.

“Puerto Rico: The Economic Case for Sovereignty” aims to educate the Puerto Rican nation and Americans about the benefits, opportunities, and the great economic potential that sovereignty and nationhood would offer Puerto Rico. The book explains, with current data and economic projections, how Puerto Rico will be able to generate billions in revenue to operate its national government and also finance socioeconomic development projects and opportunities that would make Puerto Rico a regional economic powerhouse in the Caribbean & Latin America. Essentially, this book finally answers the question: "where are we going to get the money to progress as a sovereign nation?"

After explaining the causes of the current U.S. colonial economic debacle, the book outlines several economic initiatives that will surely generate interest in the Puerto Rican people. In addition to educating Puerto Ricans and others about the economic viability of sovereignty, the book shows how other small countries are taking advantage of their geographical, political, economic, and human capital resource advantages to be influential countries in the international economy, particularly in this new era of globalization.

This book explores the following topics:

1. Economic development for a sovereign Puerto Rico
2. The consequences of statehood
3. Sovereignty & State Capitalism
4. Towards a fiscal & economic policy for Puerto Rico
5. Economic & maritime development with the end of the U.S. Cabotage Laws

The author affirms: “With sovereignty, Puerto Rico will finally be able to forge and establish a national economy based on production and exports, not colonial dependency, that can lift the country out of colonial poverty and fully insert itself into the international economy for the benefit of the entire Puerto Rican nation. This book shows the path of freedom that Puerto Rico must take to ensure its future as a nation and its economic success in the world."