Welfare Relations between the Market, Family, State and the Community: The 'Comunidades Especiales' in Puerto Rico as a Case Study

Puerto Rico' present levels of GDP per capita (PPP) are higher than two dozen countries in the Caribbean and Central American region, although poverty levels are higher than its economic development would suggest. To address the high levels of poverty and inequality the "Law for the Integral Development of Special Communities in PR" was passed in 2001, with the purpose of establishing a public policy as regards with the development of the poorest communities in the country. However, for over a decade the government has not prepared socioeconomic profiles of the population residents at the marginalized communities and the degree of their welfare remain largely unknown. The article presents the results of a research on the welfare relations between the state, market, family and community in 7 marginalized communities in Puerto Rico and shows that interviewees perceived the existing welfare state as very close to the residual/liberal ideal type.