Why isn't Costa Rica richest country central America?

Answer 1

According to current World bank GDP figures, it is. But more importantly, when will it pull away from the "developing country" category?

Government monopolies that have run the countries energy, telecom., healthcare and insurance sectors the Governments burrocratic & slugish descision making processs have been (among other things) an obstacle. However, the country has now opened up these sectors and is building up a huge list of important free trade agreements (USA, Carribean, South America, Europe, China). This in combination with Costa Rica's highly educated population, 97% literacy rate (huge foreign investment corps. such as Intel, MS & Dome, Boston Scientific, Pfizer, and many others) and investment in science and technology, will pull Costa Rica out of third world (mark my words) no later than 10 years from now. Costa Rica's stable democratic government is slowly transforming economics in to a more dynamic environment. Despite its population size, Costa Rica has huge potential. There is no military and more money is invested in education. During this economic crises big social and infrastructure investment projects have taken place to help activate the economy. Costa Rica will definitely pull away from the pack in the next few years.

That, is a futurist thought.