Speech by the Minister for Inter-Agency Coordination (s)

Costa Rica has enjoyed an average income that is among the highest in the region.

However, deteriorating incomes among the bottom fifth of the population since 2000 are undermining poverty reduction efforts, even as the well-off do better. In addition, Costa Rica is burdened with macroeconomic imbalances, including high debt, dollarization and inflation. These factors increase the costs of doing business.

Global Economic Prospects 2008
It is expected that real GDP growth in developing countries is moderate to reach 7.1% in 2008, while high-income countries will grow only 2.2%, according to the World Bank.

Informality: Escape and Delisting
The study says that in order to reduce levels of informality in the region responsible for public policies should guide their action to improve conditions that drive productivity and the expansion of the formal sector.

Ten things of the World Bank
The paper discusses such topics as strengthening of the investment environment, forging strategies with civil society and how to preserve the environment in Central America.