US Azores base cut-back may cause 20% emigration

By TPN/Lusa, in News · 19-01-2015 15:11:00 · 0 Comments

The US military cut-back at Lajes air force base could lead to 5,000 to 10,000 people emigrating in a short space of time if no alternative employment is created, according to studies from the University of the Azores.

"This (closure) will mean an emigration of 5,500 people in the best case scenario, or 10,000 if there is a lot of informal employment at the moment", said Tomaz Dentinho, an economist and lecturer at the university.



On an island with 55,000 inhabitants wthis would correspond to a reduction of 10% to 20% of the population, which, according to the economist would have a multiplier effect since a smaller population would not have a business class with the ability to react and risked losing some skills and activities.



