Digital Library

Book | Towards a Better Costa Rica 2021: Employment and Competitiveness

The report outlines a strategic development plan for Costa Rica with specific actions to drive employment, reduce poverty, and decrease carbon emissions. The plan, titled "Towards a Better Costa Rica," is a call to address Costa Rica's primary national challenge: unemployment. It’s a proposal for concrete actions rather than a government plan, aiming to create 350,000 jobs, lift 60,000 families from poverty, and reduce carbon emissions.

1. Enhancing Strategic Clusters

Goal: Establish six major industry clusters (similar to Intel’s impact) to generate 70,000 quality jobs and support local SMEs.
Key Sectors: Technology, eco-efficiency, biofuels, solar energy, medical tourism, education, and cultural tourism.
Example Actions:
- For biofuels, plant 250,000 hectares of castor beans to reduce diesel imports by 50%.
- For solar energy, install solar panels on rooftops to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
- Develop Costa Rica as a hub for green data centers powered by renewable energy.

2. Infrastructure and Mobility

Goal: Invest $8 billion in infrastructure over five years to improve mobility and safety.
Key Projects:
- Prioritize roads as per the 2020 National Road Plan.
- Build bike paths, dedicated lanes for electric buses, and a modern public transit system.
- Construct tunnels to improve connectivity around San José.

3. Solidarity and Skills Training

Goal: Lift 60,000 families from poverty by providing access to job opportunities and skill development.
Key Actions:
- Support English education by reallocating French lessons to English.
- Establish a Dual Education Program and transform CONAPE into a student loan guarantee fund.

4. Competitiveness and Regulatory Simplification

Goal: Boost competitiveness by 10 points and streamline processes to attract investment.
Actions:
- Provide fiber-optic internet to 60% of households.
- Repeal outdated laws, simplify municipal permits, and introduce a regulatory “guillotine” to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic requirements.

5. Economic Growth for Job Creation

Goal: Achieve 8% annual economic growth to generate 70,000 jobs each year.
Key Measures:
- Support SMEs by implementing a tiered social charge system.
- Implement new SUGEF guidelines to facilitate development loans.
- Formalize a pro-employment macroeconomic policy for balance between inflation and job creation.

This plan positions Costa Rica to improve job opportunities, stimulate economic growth, foster a low-carbon economy, and strengthen social solidarity. Each step involves collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors, with a focus on long-term sustainability and inclusiveness.

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Book | Towards a Better Costa Rica 2021: A Global Environmental Leader

The report calls for Costa Rica to set an example for sustainable practices, showing the world how a country can thrive while protecting its natural resources and addressing climate change. The plan highlights Costa Rica’s commitment to pioneering eco-friendly policies and models for environmental stewardship.

1. Achieving Carbon Neutrality

Goal: Establish Costa Rica as one of the first carbon-neutral countries.
Key Actions:
- Expand the national payment system for environmental services (PES) to incentivize forest conservation and reforestation, directly linking PES to carbon sequestration targets.
- Promote renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, to ensure a clean energy matrix that meets future demands.
- Implement a national carbon tax to fund green projects and reduce emissions across all sectors.

2. Sustainable Land Use and Conservation

Goal: Protect and expand natural areas, aiming for 40% of Costa Rican land to be conserved.
Key Actions:
- Enforce strict land-use regulations to prevent deforestation and land degradation.
- Develop sustainable agriculture programs that minimize chemical use and promote regenerative practices, benefiting local farmers and the environment.
- Support ecotourism initiatives that prioritize preservation, ensuring Costa Rica remains a top destination for sustainable travel.

3. Ocean Health and Marine Conservation

Goal: Extend Costa Rica’s marine protected areas (MPAs) to cover at least 30% of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Key Actions:
- Partner with international organizations to increase surveillance and enforcement in MPAs, preventing illegal fishing and safeguarding marine biodiversity.
- Promote sustainable fishing practices and provide alternative livelihoods for coastal communities to reduce pressure on marine resources.
- Lead regional efforts to tackle plastic pollution in the oceans by implementing strict waste management policies and supporting innovations in biodegradable materials.

4. Green Infrastructure and Mobility

Goal: Transition to eco-friendly transportation and urban planning.
Key Actions:
- Expand electric public transportation networks, ensuring all urban areas are served by green mobility options.
- Incentivize the use of electric and hybrid vehicles through tax exemptions and supportive infrastructure, such as EV charging stations across the country.
- Develop green spaces in urban areas to improve air quality and provide recreational spaces that promote well-being.

5. Climate-Resilient Economy

Goal: Build a climate-resilient economy that supports sustainable industries and mitigates risks from climate impacts.
Key Actions:
- Strengthen Costa Rica’s renewable energy industry, making it a global exporter of clean energy technologies.
- Invest in climate adaptation projects to protect critical infrastructure, water resources, and vulnerable communities from climate-related events.
- Promote sustainable industries, including green finance and eco-tourism, that align with the country’s environmental values and provide stable, long-term employment.

6. Environmental Education and Global Advocacy

Goal: Educate citizens and advocate for global climate action.
Key Actions:
- Integrate environmental education into all school levels to foster a generation that values and acts on sustainability.
- Use Costa Rica’s international influence to push for ambitious climate commitments and partnerships, serving as an example and mentor to other nations.
- Launch a global climate diplomacy initiative to engage with other countries, encouraging sustainable practices inspired by Costa Rica’s successes.

This report positions Costa Rica as a proactive leader in environmental policy, aiming to demonstrate that a small nation can achieve significant progress in fighting climate change. By committing to these actions, Costa Rica can offer a model of resilience, economic growth, and environmental stewardship for the world to follow.

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Book | The Costa Rican Way: A National Project, FIRST REPORT

‘The Costa Rican Way: A National Project’ is a civic movement that transcends party lines, aiming to bring together all sectors of Costa Rican society. It provides an open space for citizens who recognize the need for a profound societal shift. The movement's goal is to develop and implement a shared vision of the best possible Costa Rica in the coming decades. Participants are expected to bring a renewed sense of personal responsibility, openness to diverse viewpoints, and a constructive attitude.

The vision is to reinvent Costa Rica so that more people can aspire to "Good Living" and to find Costa Rica’s path forward through innovative ideas. Participation is the core method, inviting citizens to share ideas and take an active role in shaping the future of Costa Rica.

The National Project is not a document or a one-time effort but a living process seeking constant improvement. It encourages moving beyond "low-intensity democracy" towards a "citizen democracy." Using the annual National Reports as a baseline, the movement identifies and understands Costa Rica’s main challenges, setting a foundation for ongoing progress.

In its first four months, the initiative received over 600 ideas from citizens, engaged 150 volunteers in workshops, and reached more than 1,500 people in meetings. Through an active online community, with over 26,000 followers on Facebook, the movement receives constant feedback.

This initial report summarizes the conceptual framework guiding the movement and the first collection of ideas from Costa Ricans, analyzed by working groups. These ideas, structured around identity, citizen leadership, and sustainability, emphasize the need for personal reinvention to eventually reinvent the nation.

Future reports will include additional insights on health, education, security, infrastructure, and funding improvements in these areas. This report aims to inspire fresh, innovative debate on Costa Rica's national agenda, encouraging citizens to contribute ideas toward building the best possible future for Costa Rica.

Executive Summary:

A new world is emerging, presenting tremendous opportunities for Costa Rica, contingent on each citizen's engagement. A better Costa Rica requires better Costa Ricans, united in forging a new path toward "Good Living"—a balanced, purpose-driven life in harmony with others and nature.

The first set of initiatives includes:

1. Identity – Strengthening Costa Rican values and character.

National Sports Initiative: Promoting sports as a vehicle for ethical values, teamwork, and healthy lifestyles, with both recreational and competitive focuses, and sustained funding through public-private partnerships.
Rebuilding Trust: Educating society to foster trust and unity, reducing societal divisions.

2. Citizen Leadership – Empowering individuals and communities to lead in shaping their future.

From Electoral Rituals to Living Democracy: Strengthening governance through a national referendum and creating a permanent Economic and Social Council for societal dialogue.
Territorial Reorganization: Empowering local communities with new administrative regions and public-private partnerships for regional development.

3. Green Economy – Positioning Costa Rica at the forefront of a low-carbon economy.

First Oil-Free Economy: Transforming Costa Rica into a biofuel powerhouse, with biocombustible cultivation supporting rural welfare.
Renewable Energy Expansion: Utilizing Costa Rica’s full renewable potential, including solar on every rooftop.
Combating Climate Change: Establishing food security and a comprehensive climate action plan focusing on vulnerable regions.

Guided by this vision, the Costa Rican Way – National Project strives to orient development towards building a Costa Rica that is sustainable, resilient, and aligned with citizens’ aspirations for "Good Living."

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Book | The Costa Rican Way: A National Project, SECOND REPORT

The Costa Rican Pathway – National Project is a civic movement that transcends party lines, aiming to incorporate all sectors of society. It is an open space inviting citizens who recognize the need for profound change in the direction of our society. The objective is to develop a shared vision of the best possible Costa Rica and to realize it over the coming decades. Participants are expected to bring a renewed sense of personal responsibility toward national development, an openness to diverse perspectives, and a constructive attitude.

The dream is clear: to reinvent Costa Rica so that many people can aspire to a "Good Living" and contribute innovative ideas to build a better country, rediscovering the Costa Rican way forward. The method is participation, inviting citizens to share their ideas and proposals, and to take an active role in designing the new Costa Rica.

The National Project is not a single document or isolated effort but an ongoing, evolving process aimed at constant improvement. It is a call to move from low-intensity democracy to citizen-driven democracy, creating platforms for collective intelligence to benefit the country.

The State of the Nation reports have served as a crucial starting point, helping to identify and understand Costa Rica's key challenges today. This report is the second in a series, summarizing the conceptual framework that inspires Costa Rican Pathway. It presents a new harvest of ideas contributed by citizens, analyzed through working groups, focused on three main areas: education, information and communications technology (ICT), and road infrastructure.

This report aims to foster constructive debate on substantial issues in the national agenda, inviting Costa Ricans to contribute their ideas toward building the best possible Costa Rica.

Executive Summary

First Pillar: Toward a New Education

The vision is for Costa Rica to once again be known as the "Country of Education," transitioning to a New Education system that is broadly inclusive, innovative, and promotes national identity with planetary awareness and sustainability. The New Education is inclusive, collaborative, flexible, systemic, and creative. Proposed initial actions include:

Education as State Policy with a Long-Term Vision: Reform the Higher Education Council to represent broader segments of society and ensure education becomes a matter of state policy.
Top-Quality Teachers in Classrooms: Establish a minimum profile for teachers, strengthen the Civil Service for Teachers, and offer scholarships for educators with strong vocations to study abroad.
Efficient Education Management: Encourage citizen participation and innovation, support pilot programs for cooperative school management, and engage the private sector in improving education tools.
Involving Families: Propose a Family Education Program to help parents better support their children's education.
Connected Learning: Implement a five-year plan to offer wireless internet in educational communities and provide devices for students and teachers to promote collaborative learning.
Educational Innovation Network: Establish a network to showcase and inspire educational innovation across Costa Rica.

Second Pillar: Technological Platforms for Collaboration

In the pursuit of Good Living, collaboration-driven innovation is essential. Key proposals to enhance Costa Rica’s ICT ecosystem include:

Create a National Agency for ICT Promotion (ANPI): An agency to position Costa Rica at the forefront of ICT globally and promote digital government transformation.
Universal Access to Broadband: Ensure broadband access for all Costa Ricans, akin to water and electricity access.
Supporting New Education with Digital Tools: Develop a national digital platform for inclusive, high-quality education.
Develop Electronic Health Records: Establish national standards for integrated public-private health records.
Complete Digitalization of Government Procurement: Use the existing MerLink system to improve efficiency and free up resources.
Reform the Telecommunications Superintendency: Address governance and performance issues, opening dialogue to adapt legal and administrative frameworks.

Third Pillar: Infrastructure for a New Economy

In the New Economy framework, world-class infrastructure and transportation systems are vital for competitiveness and the well-being of citizens. The strategy includes:

Promote the National Road Plan to 2020: Implement priority projects in the National Road Network, following proposals from the Costa Rican Roads Association.
Revitalize the Metropolitan Electric Train (TREM): Use existing railways for electric trains to reduce vehicle traffic and carbon emissions.
Make Public Transportation More Efficient and Green: Develop a network of electric or hybrid buses and minibuses, with exclusive lanes, bike paths, and improved sidewalks.
Establish a Logistics Corridor: Position Costa Rica as a regional logistics hub by developing rail and interoceanic dry canal projects.
Implement an Integrated Digital Transport System: Create a digital platform to consolidate schedules and payment systems across transport modes.
Modernize Infrastructure Financing and Management: Adopt the "Total Cost" paradigm for evaluating projects, and strengthen national and municipal technical capacity.

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Magazine | Costa Rica Prepared for the Future

This book compiles four key speeches delivered by President José María Figueres Olsen to the Nation each year on May 1, during his term from 1994 to 1998. These addresses provide a comprehensive view of the administration's goals, progress, and vision for Costa Rica's future, focusing on sustainable development, economic growth, technological advancement, and environmental stewardship.

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Book | Prepared for the Future

Prepared for the Future explores Costa Rica’s journey from a successful, agriculture-based economy to an emerging hub for high technology and sustainable development. The book highlights how the nation’s impressive human development indicators—such as high life expectancy and low illiteracy—set the foundation for a prosperous society. Yet, by the beginning of the 1980s, Costa Rica’s traditional model faced mounting challenges, prompting the need for economic diversification and structural reforms. Embracing globalization, the Figueres administration crafted a transformative long-term strategy that established two clusters of national competitiveness: ecotourism, which linked environmental stewardship with business growth, and high-tech industries, beginning with the attraction of INTEL. With initiatives in education, healthcare, financial reform, and human capital development, Costa Rica has successfully attracted high-tech industries, laying the groundwork for a resilient future.

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Book | Building the Bridge to the New Millennium

Building the Bridge to the New Millennium presents a curated selection of speeches by President José María Figueres Olsen during the final year of his administration. The book provides essential context for understanding Costa Rica’s recent history, a period marked by major global transformations, such as the end of the Cold War and the restructuring of global economies. These changes required Costa Rica to navigate new challenges, from reduced international aid to the need for national economic reform. Figueres Olsen’s administration took bold steps to integrate Costa Rica into the global economy while addressing pressing domestic issues, focusing on sustainable development and improving quality of life for all citizens. This work highlights the determination to uplift marginalized regions, strengthen democracy, and foster self-reliance amidst challenging circumstances.

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Book | Governing in Times of Change: The Figueres Olsen Administration 1994 - 1998

The document emphasizes the importance of understanding this work as a reflection on the achievements and challenges of the Figueres administration (1994–1998), rather than as an exhaustive record. It acknowledges the limitations in terms of evaluation tools and the subjectivity of those involved. This reflection draws on Costa Rica's historical trajectory, aiming to dignify politics and recognize the administration’s efforts to fulfill its promises amidst significant structural and social challenges. The Government of President Figueres is presented as committed to advancing Costa Rica’s development agenda, focusing on sustainable economic growth, technological integration, and social responsibility.

Economic, Social and Environmental Policy Direction

The administration pursued a model emphasizing:

Economic Integration: Incorporating Costa Rica into the global economy and shifting towards sustainable development by blending economic, social, and environmental policies.
Productivity and Social Investment: Prioritizing productivity growth and social investment over mere economic balance. This aimed to ensure that social spending translated into opportunities for upward mobility, aligning with a broader economic vision.
Environmental Responsibility: Recognizing natural resources as assets that could drive rural development, balancing conservation with economic utility.

Cultural and Structural Shifts

A recurring theme is the "change of course" required for Costa Rica to thrive within a globalized world. The document emphasizes the cultural challenges Costa Rica faced in redefining itself on the global stage, adopting both technological innovation and universal cultural values. The aim was to harmonize the preservation of Costa Rican identity with the openness to global influences.

Technological Integration and Human Capital

Under Figueres’ leadership, the administration focused on integrating Costa Rica into the high-tech sector, notably through partnerships with multinational companies like Intel. This vision involved:

Leveraging technology to enhance productivity sustainably.

Investing in education and language skills to prepare a workforce for future demands.

Enabling a "sustainable development strategy" that balanced technology with environmental stewardship.

Challenges Faced

The document candidly addresses the difficulties of implementing these policies. Key issues included:

Institutional and Bureaucratic Resistance: The administration encountered challenges with entrenched bureaucratic structures, hindering progress.
Financial Constraints: Fiscal limitations often impeded the scale of transformative projects, despite innovative financing efforts.
Cultural Barriers: Transitioning Costa Rican society towards a more open and globally integrated culture proved complex, as change met resistance from traditional sectors.

Achievements and Legacy

The administration highlights several core achievements:

Sustainable Development Model: By intertwining environmental, social, and economic policies, Costa Rica advanced a unique model for sustainable growth.
Technological Advancement Successfully positioned Costa Rica in the global tech landscape, setting the foundation for future economic growth.
Political Accountability: Emphasized transparency and accountability, even amidst criticism and setbacks, portraying the administration as resilient and dedicated to its mission.

Final Reflection on Dignified Politics

The conclusion reinforces the administration's dedication to elevating political discourse and governing with integrity. It acknowledges the public’s frustrations with slow progress and setbacks, while also asserting that meaningful, sustainable change often requires time and patience. The Figueres Administration laid the groundwork for a more integrated, resilient, and forward-looking Costa Rica.

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