Gaps in GDP per capita between different countries are directly related to the productivity gaps between their respective economies, with education being the main factor in these differences.
The OECD report "Promoting inclusive growth of productivity in Latin America" says that although the region made progress in reducing poverty over the past 20 years, it still stands out at the global level, because of the unequal income its inhabitants.
The more financially educated people are, more rational their economic and political decisions are, creating greater economic development and better quality of life in society.
EDITORIAL
This fact is clearly indicated by the results of a comprehensive study by McGraw Hill Financial on financial literacy, which is defined as the ability to understand how the money in the world works, what to do to earn it, and how it is administered.
Report of Costa Rica´s performance, through the selection, measurement and evaluation of a set of variables that include social, economic, environmental and political aspects of development.
Overview of the State of the Nation Report 2015:
In the past five years, the State of the Nation has warned about the severity of the problems that threaten the sustainability of human development, the political system's inability to find answers and the need to correct the country's course. Therefore, in 2011 it was stated that behind the political and economic stability a wearing down of Costa Rica's historical progress could be detected. In 2012 the absence of solid progress was noted and in 2013, the existence of myths about the "country we are," which led to do the same actions being repeated with different results expected. Last year, the Twentieth Report stated that it was the end of an era and the political system was being called on to lead the transition with minimal confrontation and costs for the weaker groups.
A study has been made comparing the policies and incentives used to attract foreign investment and its impact on the economic development in each country.
From the executive summary of the study "Productive development policies to export and attract investment: a comparison of El Salvador and Costa Rica" produced by the Salvadoran Development Foundation (FUSADES):
In the nineties a village in Costa Rica was populated by dreams of a promising future driven by the exploitation of a gold mine. Today there are only 27 inhabitants, left without hope.
EDITORIAL
An article on Nacion.com reports on the ups and downs of the gold mine project in Crucitas, in Costa Rica, which eventually fell through because environmental forces prevailed over sustainable development, leaving a long series of damages to the country in terms of confidence in the security of investments, tax losses, and mainly in the hopes of human beings who believed in and supported the mine being a catalyst for progress in the area. As usually happens, the only winners were the lawyers who litigated and continue litigating for both sides.
The country's loss of competitiveness because of the deterioration of basic infrastructure development, is replicated in the case of the internet where average speeds are only 2.8 Mbps, far from the world average and below that of most countries in the region.
Costa Rica stands out in Central America for the quality and volume of goods and services related to technology which it produces and exports.
Low productivity in Central American economies is the barrier which needs to be overcome if we want to grow in a sustainable way.
A study prepared by the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Funides) analyzes the evolution of productivity in different production factors in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
The 3rd Summit of the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean resulted in an expected collection of platitudes which can be summarized by everyone willing to "be rich and healthy and not poor and sick", plus a media show of diplomatic excesses.
EDITORIAL
The meeting was attended by all the leaders who were able to, obviously not because they expected to accomplish anyhing that might benefit the people of their respective countries, but simply because "you have to be there".
Free parking in Panama and heavy trains running through the streets of the capital of Costa Rica, are examples of some of the strange decisions taken by their governments.
EDITORIAL
While the rest of the world discourages the use of private cars as a means of transportation, increasing the costs of their use by setting, among other methods, high costs for parking in urban areas, in Panama, whose capital city suffers like any other city from the growing problems of congestion on the roads, the National Assembly recently passed a law that mandates free parking in "commercial parking lots of any kind or public offices where purchases are made, goods acquired or any services received. "
Costa Rica is the one of the best examples of what happens when obstacles like the coming and going between state paternalism and trade affect the social and economic development.
While receiving an award from the National Association for Economic Development for Freedom (ANFE) 2014, Juan Carlos Hidalgo gave a stark analysis of the Costa Rican situation, which highlights the apparent contradictions between sustained economic growth and the painful reality of growing poverty.
Employers in the region are complaining about a lack of long-term development policies, and are asking for Government transparency, effectiveness and legal certainty, so that they can continue investing in the region.
During a meeting between businessmen and government called 'Expanding opportunities: promoting the private sector and job creation', entrepreneurs from different sectors shared their concerns and views on the investment climate in the region.
A survey carried out by CID-Gallup on the perceptions of Central Americans regarding the direction of their countries shows pessimism in Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras.
From a statement issued by CID-Gallup:
The Dominican Republic, Panama and Nicaragua are the nations in the region with the best direction for the country.
This is the result of a series of public opinion surveys that CID / Gallup Latin America carries out every year in September in Central America and the Dominican Republic. The survey has a minimum reach of 1200 households and is a representative sample of the national population.
A feasibility study will be carried out on converting the canton of Orotina in Alajuela, into a center to attract economic development in order for large logistics companies to establish there.
From a statement issued by the Georgia Tech Foundation:
According to Emmanuel Hess, President of the Georgia Tech Foundation "Orotina canton has special factors which make us to think that it would be feasible to set up a logistic hub which would encourage the arrival of companies." Among these conditions, Hess said is its proximity to Puerto Caldera, proximity to the National Route 27, which allows travel to San Jose in about 45 minutes, the Canton's excellent interconnections via fiber optics and the probable location of the new international airport in that region.
Every year Switzerland sells about 50 thousand tons for which it receives $1.98 billion, earning a return on its coffee exports which is 5 times higher than in Germany.
An article on Msn.com reports on a not well known phenomenon practiced in Central America: the value of generating and accumulating knowledge and practicing innovation is much higher than owning and exploiting natural resources.