Puerto Rico’s economic situation raises serious questions about the capacity of policymakers to get it under control.
A renewed slide in investor confidence, on the heels of worsening economic and budgetary trends in Puerto Rico, raises the specter that in the absence of enlightened political leadership in San Juan, the U.S. Congress may soon have to establish a federal oversight board to manage the Commonwealth’s grave fiscal situation.
Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla announced changes to his fiscal team Wednesday that call for shifting Treasury Secretary Melba Acosta to the helm of the Government Development Bank, and naming Juan Zaragoza-Gómez as her successor at the agency. The governor also announced the appointment of Luis Cruz as director of the Office of Management and Budget.