economy
February 10, 2026
Puerto Rico, sugar, and crony capitalism
The Super Bowl halftime show began with what looked like a scene from Macbeth, but instead of Birnam Wood coming to life and storming the field, it was a sugar cane field.
TL;DR
- The Super Bowl halftime show featured a sugar cane field, symbolizing Puerto Rico's past.
- The decline of sugar cane in Puerto Rico was influenced by the high cost of labor and government policies.
- Crony capitalism impacted the sugar industry through programs that exploited foreign workers and provided corporate welfare.
- Puerto Ricans were not exploited for sugar cane labor in Florida because they could not be deported.
- A U.S. protectionist sugar program created an incentive for Puerto Ricans to grow sugar for the U.S. market.
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