Costa Rica- will they finally get a grip on development?

I'm with you on #23 Tim. You can't turn the clock back Tony- if all that anger (sorry, passion) can somehow slow down the pace of negative change then all when and good- but how?
Value is relative to the day- saying that Ticos got blown off because they could have got so much more today means what?. Like we haven't all owned stock or property that we could have sold for a whole lot more with the value of hindsight?

Jim, I understand that progress and change is inevitable, but there is a right way and a WRONG way to do it. And what's happened and still happening in Costa Rica is by far the wrong way, and for alot of reasons. Listen, I understand that you chose to make CR your home and you don't want to believe that your being there is affecting the average working class Tico in a BAD way. But geez, it can do nothing BUT that. Ticos USED to be fairly content and happy with their lives despite the fact that they had next to nothing. That's what made their lives so "pure". Now, they are repeatedly stomped on economically because their situation was ripe for the picking, and quite frankly it sucks. Those supposedly nice Ticos aren't so nice anymore, and who can blame them?

Nevermind all that, what about what is happening to the country? Eroding shorelines, nasty environmental impact in the name of "progressive development"? It's a disaster in the making. You may not be able to see the damage yet, but trust me, you will. I go to Costa Rica, and I see the difference in a heartbeat, everywhere.

In the UK a previous government decided to sell off council (State owned) houses to their residents. A few years later these people cashed in (thousands of them) for huge gains in the property boom that people screamed was unfair. It worked in reverse for them.
You see dissent, anger, and revolt as a result of what is happening in Costa Rica. But I know a lot of Ticos that see it as a way of making sure that their kids don't work in the fields, get a college education and a 'good' life (lets not debate whether a westernised life is a 'good life').

Oh come on, how is this current economic state possibly helping your average Tico? It's doing nothing but pricing them out of their own country's property market, they'll never be able to own homes in any place other than swamps and bug-ridden canyons, you think that's fair? Their kids are not going to get a good life, just a life with less economic opportunity and even crappier jobs waiting for them. Education has suffered in Costa Rica since this boom, that's a fact. They used to have a 95% literacy rate, the highest in Central America, and now it's less than 90%. Police and other services also don't seem to be improving though there is supposed to be a bigger tax base thanks to the big-money gringos. That's what you don't seem to understand, this "boom" is being perpetuated at the Tico's EXPENSE, not to their advantage.

For the same reason they eventually voted in favor of CAFTA- they are looking to the future, as ugly as parts of it might be, rather than the past.

They drafted CAFTA because they essentially had no choice. It was either sign up or be left behind. Costa Rica is going to have seriously beef up its exports to make CAFTA worth their while. And despite that, you can bet that the gringo boom will eat away at much of the GDP gains from CAFTA in the form of higher prices for everything. Sorry, but as hopeful as I am for Costa Rica, I'm still dubious.

Edited by: theandiamo

I have to make one other point.

You can hate me (which I don't have a problem with) because I have a small (but really rather cool) place in Escazu which you may see as a Dante-esq man made version of Hell. But, I'm telling you, whenever I go to those rather flash rather good restaurants and clubs they are ram jammy 98% Tico and all having a great time. Dressed beautifully and looking cool (the chicas mainly).

I've been to Escazu many times, particularly at night. What you fail to point out however is those beautiful Ticos you're seeing at the restaurants and bars are NOT your typical Tico. Those beautiful well-to-do Ticos you see having fun in Escazu account for less than 5% of the general population, if that. The rest of them couldn't possibly afford to dine out or party in Escazu. A lot of the Ticas that are there dressed to the nines are probably from the poorer set, looking for a gringo or wealthy Tico to take care of them, or even someone who will take them home and throw some cash or gifts their way. Because that's their sole shot at economic survival while they still have some looks and youth left. Sorry, but to me, that's pretty sad. And no worries, I know that's not just happening in CR. It happens everywhere in Latin America, even here in Colombia, and how...

The gringos meanwhile stay in their drab cheap bars slumped over their sweating drinks moaning about the credit crunch and the economic melt down with their nasty cheap clothes and their stubbly chins (chicas included).

Well, call that "just desserts". They thought had it made, and now they're feeling the pinch. Too bad...

Pura Vida I say- good on you Tico's!!!!

Yeah, to the few Ticos who can afford it.

Tell me something Tony- when you've drunk half your beer, do you think of the glass as half full or half empty?

You paint such a sorry depressing picture of life. To you that's reality and everyone else is deluded but I honestly believe you've dug yourself into a trench of opinion (which you are fully entitled to do) from which you really can't see over the top.
Its good to know ya, but I wouldn't wanna be ya!

That 90% Literacy rate is the same rate that attracts major international companies to open many new operations in CR, like Intels largest Chip factory, HP, Monsanto, and Medical Device mfg....

It used to be higher Jim, less than 10 years ago, it was over 95%. And yeah, they're attracting these manufacturers (many of the tech companies you name have been there for years now), but that's mainly for the cheap educated labor.

The contrast to the other countries in CA on the economic front runs circles around the others, and exports are growing leaps and bounds, as the the newest partner, China, is all about imports and trade.

Yeah, good old China. Watch what happens, they will flood CR's market with cheap, defective crap that will make locally made goods unable to compete price-wise, and they'll buy CR's exports at reduced tariffs like they demand from all their trading partners nations, US included.

I highly doubt there is a major school system in Americas major cities with a 75% Literacy rate, and CR only has 3.5 Million citizens, the size on Dallas Texas.

Costa Rica has 4.2 million people as of the last census. And don't even use the US' dismal public education system as a point of comparison.

Though secondary education in CR is lacking, the essential elements of education prevents poverty certainly is holding true in CR, as poverty is under 15%, though its a developing country, it has managed to curtail and improve the lives of the average family, though inflation and a weak USD has hampered growth in the Cost Of Living indexes, but thats a worldwide trend overall, regardless of your GDP.

Come on, do you really trust those figures? You live there, you should know better Jim. The poverty level is kept artificially low. They use standards and data that do not take into account the economic impact of the gringo boom. Particularly when it comes to figuring the cost of living. Like you said, Costa Rica has a very small population, that is highly affected by economic blips.

Wages have been stagnant for some time now, and that's because the government wants to keep wages low to continue to attract foreign investment. The development boom was done entirely on the backs of this low-wage labor. It used to be the average Tico could get lots of benefits and services from the government. So even if they didn't have a lot of money they were fairly well taken care of. Well, not anymore. They have to pay more for everything from utilities to insurance. Like the guy who rode his bike said, your average Tico is mad as hell at what has been happening to them the past 10-15 years. He heard exactly the same sentiments I do everytime I'm there. 10-15 years ago, you 'd be surprised to hear a single complaint about how things were going from the average Tico. Big change.

Tell me something Tony- when you've drunk half your beer, do you think of the glass as half full or half empty?

My glass of beer never stays full long enough for it to get half-full.... :P

Jim, this isn't about me. The changes and contrasts in Costa Rica for the worse are real, whether you care to see that or not. That's been clearly established here, and not just by me, incidentally. I suspect until it personally affects you, you won't get it. And believe me when I say, I hope it never does. Been there, wouldn't will that on anybody.

+You paint such a sorry depressing picture of life. To you that's reality and everyone else is deluded but I honestly believe you've dug yourself into a trench of opinion (which you are fully entitled to do) from which you really can't see over the top.
Its good to know ya, but I wouldn't wanna be ya!

The feeling is mutual. No worries there. :P

You seem to think that I'm this sullen depressed person. Come on... my life is pretty good and I can't complain about a thing. I do what I love every single day (except when I have to fix a toilet on this thing), see people and places in a way that many wish they could, get to have crazy incredible adventures on the boat. I've got an amazing, smart, beautiful girlfriend. I've got a cat. Life is anything BUT depressing for me.

Again, this is not about me, Jim. It's about something I care about. And if there's anything I can do, it's to put out some realistic information and opinions out there to at least let people know what is REALLY going on in a country that's being systematically raped and ruined at the expense of some really wonderful people who don't deserve it.

TONY-

You accidently replied to my post as if Jim (Boomer) wrote it....

Some of the points you make are really odd...

Like, they choose to MFG in CR because of cheap educated labor? Umm....thats exactly right, and thats why its a good job for a Tico, earning 3 times the living wage in a developing country works for me. Without a educated labor force, you have no good jobs with top notch benefits.

Jim... Tim... what's the difference... :)

Hey, I'd rather have more tech industry in CR and less gringo development, any day. The problem is that the benefits gained from the high tech jobs are negated by the effects of the gringo boom. People earning 3 times the living wage STILL will not be able to buy a home in most decent parts of Costa Rica.

Other than that, there should be more of these jobs coming into CR, but the benefits would be FAR greater if they didn't have to be at the whims of a speculative market.

I disagree with your assessment of the Gringo Boom-

Development, at all levels, from roads, infrastructure, cafes, business, hotels, private homes all contributes to the employment ranks, and as you know, the Tico economy has had tremendous growth is all sectors of the economy, that Ticos dont even want the jobs anymore of working in the plantation fields picking coffee beans and grapefruit, that has now been handed to the unemployed Nicaraguans, as some 300,000 migrate seasonally for work in Costa Rica, as the Ticos enjoy better jobs and better futures.

If that is a bad thing, I hate to see your idea of creating jobs and developing a country from the governments revenue like these leftist leaning social losers Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez and friends, as is the case in most of the CA economies, lines or no access at all to basics like butter, milk and bread, stagnant and misguided sums up the rest, as Costa Rica has diversified, opened trading markets, and expanded its economy, provided more social services, improved education, and continues to have its priorities for the most part, well guided and healthy in the future, where is say nicaragua, there is no future, not a ounce. Poverty rules. Greed is the government leaders motto, and power is in the hands of a few, very wealthy people.

Some facts-

Costa Rica

Average per capita income $12,000
It has one of the highest indexes for (developing country) Life Expectancy. 64th in the world
It is one the highest welfare states, ranking with Scandanavian countries on revenue spent providing services to it people (a good thing)
Its is one fastest growing economies Latin America, a GDP of $57 Billion
Exports have expanded to APEC, Cafta and regionally, with Russia, China and USA its biggest partners, growing over 10% a year.
Unemployment 8%
Inflation 10%
With all this growth, it natural it has a Inflation rate of 10%, amongst the highest in Latin America.

In Contrast-

The socialist state of Nicaragua-

Average per capita income $3000
Its Life expectancy index ranks 174 in the world
It has no welfare
Its econmy has decreased in recent years, not increased to $15 Billion
Exports and alliances have failed, foreign investment has all but ceased.
Inflation rate is crippling most the population for just the staples, rice, gasoline and electricity (spotty)
Unemployment 65% (ouch)
Inflation 24%

So Tony, what country would you identify as benefiting from outside investment, development and expanding the economy creating jobs, spending more revenue on social services for its people, and eliminating poverty over 75% in a decade.