Implications of Retirement Development in High-Amenity Nonmetropolitan Coastal Areas

Retirement migration has been well documented over the past 2 decades. Initially, there were many reservations expressed about the economic impact of retirees on receiving communities; however, several recent studies have documented a positive financial benefit of retirement migration for the destination areas. Although acknowledging the economic benefit of retirees on receiving communities, this article addresses the broader implications of the retirement boom on sparsely populated, nonmetropolitan coastal counties. The relationship between this aspect of economic development and the rise of the tourist industry in these areas is also examined. Other issues investigated include infrastructure requirements; environmental concerns; medical facilities and personnel, and rising taxes, utilities, and other costs.