POVERTY IN COSTA RICA

POVERTY IN COSTA RICA
By Ian Berrocal A.

During 2009, the poverty and the lack of employment in Costa Rica has grown and this is the consequence of many reasons. According to a research of the Census and Statistics National Institute, poverty represents the 18.5% of the population, and the lack of employ is the 7.5%; therefore, both poverty and lack of employment, has grown 0.8% and 2.9% related to the 2008 statistics. This situation is the product of many factors, for example, the inflation, the financial crisis, the nicaraguan immigration, poor education, and others. In the first case, the inflation limits the possibility of consumption, so, it produces other negative consequences for social life like crimes. The financial crisis has beaten the global economic and this has affected some countries with more or less intensity. In Costa Rica, one of the most important consequences of the financial crisis has been the increase in the interest rates for housing loan. In the other hand, the immigration is very important too, because this is one of the most affected part of the population. Most of the Nicaraguans, who immigrate to Costa Rica, are looking for opportunities and better life conditions because they do not have them in their own country. Finally, people without formal education are not eligible for good jobs, so they must conform with a regular kind of life. In conclusion, we can identify many reasons that contribute to increase poverty in Costa Rica and most of them are linked with the economical situation. In my opinion, the goverment has an important job to do, but at the end the power of changing depends of each person. Costa Rica is a country of opportunities, but you have to decide if you take them or leave them.

Source: http://www.infolatam.com/entrada/costa_rica_crecen_la_pobreza_y_el_desemp-16917.html