The effects of Maria migrants on the financial health of the residents of Central Florida

Abstract

The arrival of climate migrants is expected to pose challenges for many communities in the coming decades. This study examines the financial impact of Puerto Rican migration on residents in receiving communities following Hurricane Maria. While migrants may compete for jobs or reduce access to governmental safety net programs, potentially weakening the financial health of local residents, they could also address labor shortages and boost local consumption, thereby stimulating the economy. Our findings show no evidence that Puerto Rican migration had an adverse effect on residents' credit health outcomes—such as credit scores and delinquency rates—even three years post-arrival. In fact, existing homeowners in Hispanic communities in Central Florida experienced improved financial well-being. We present suggestive evidence that these homeowners may have benefited from a modest increase in property values following the influx of migrants.