IMPLICATIONS OF RETIREMENT DEVELOPMENT IN HIGH-AMENITY NONMETROPOLITAN COASTAL AREAS

Retirement migration has been well documented over the past 2 decades. Initially, there were many reservations expressed about the economic impact of retirees on receiving communities; however several recent st udies have documented a positive financial benefit of retirement migra tion for the destination areas. Although acknowledging the economic be nefit of retirees on receiving communities, this article addresses the broader implications of the retirement boom on sparsely populated non metropolitan coastal counties. The relationship between this aspect of economic development and the rise of the tourist industry in these ar eas is also examined. Other issues investigated include infrastructure requirements; environmental concerns; medical facilities and personne l; and rising taxes, utilities, and other costs.