Portugal and Maine

PORTUGAL AND MAINE

Portugal (pop.10.2 million) and Maine (pop. 1.4 million) have similarities. Both are at the edge of their respective economic areas, the European Union and the United States, and both have an extensive maritime and fishery history and economy.

They also have a few other things in common. Prosperous people buy property in a beautiful place; local people can’t afford housing. Jobs that pay well are few; service jobs catering to the prosperous people do not pay well and/or are seasonal. Good jobs with good wages are scarce because of the remote location, lack of infrastructure, and foreign competition. Education levels of local people are different from those of prosperous newcomers, leading to misunderstandings and resentment. Local young people are moving away.

The situation in Portugal has caused a rise in the politics of resentment and a turn to the right. This has not yet happened in Maine, but Portugal is a cautionary tale. 

Source: The New York Times, 3/22/24