PUERTO-RICAN SEGREGATION IRE THE UNITED-STATES - CAUSE OR CONSEQUENCEOF ECONOMIC-STATUS

Using a simultaneous equations model, this study examines cross-metrop olitan variations in Puerto Rican residence and economic status. The s tudy addresses the question: Are patterns of Puerto Rican residence a cause and/or consequence of Puerto Rican economic status? Our analytic al approach is distinguished by its modeling of bi-directional causal relationships between residential location and income that are mediate d partially try female headship rates and male labor force participati on rates. The results from our weighted two-stage least squares regres sion analyses suggest that 1) patterns of Puerto Rican segregation are a consequence of their economic status; and 2) the effect of segregat ion on median income is mediated by female headship and labor force pa rticipation rates. We also find evidence to suggest that the relations hips between residential location and economic status for Puerto Rican s differ in important ways from those observed for Black; and other La tino groups.