Costa Rica has signed trade agreements with Canada, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, and several Caribbean Community countries. A legal reform passed in 2000 requires employers to pay monthly contributions into pension and severance funds that will be at the disposal of employees when required. As of 1999, 58% of the work force was employed in service industries. In 2004, there were approximately 1,082,662 housing units in the country. Travelers should be careful to use licensed taxis, which are red and have medallions (yellow triangles containing numbers) painted on the side. of Economy & Industry: Barrantes, Gilberto, Min. . The small landowners' relative poverty, the lack of a large indigenous labor force, the population's ethnic and linguistic homogeneity, and Costa Rica's isolation from the Spanish colonial centers in Mexico and the Andes all contributed to the development of an autonomous and individualistic agrarian society. Americans may find it safer to seek entertainment in groups to help avoid being targeted, especially in urban areas. The constitution guarantees equality before the law, as well as freedom of speech, assembly, press, and organization. In 2007, Costa Rica experienced nationwide blackouts resulting from a severe dry season (which limited hydroelectric resources) and the state electricity monopoly's inadequate investment in maintenance and capacity increases. Local tastes and standards are similar to those in the U.S. and are becoming increasingly casual. A good command of Spanish is necessary because all courses are taught in Spanish. Executive responsibilities are vested in a president, who is the country's center of power. 1998. All domestic employees must be registered with the Caja. Autonomous state agencies enjoy. On occasion, some media outlets delayed printing responses because submissions were not clearly identified as replies to previously published items. A A's AMD AMD's AOL AOL's AWS AWS's Aachen Aachen's Aaliyah Aaliyah's Aaron Aaron's Abbas Abbas's Abbasid Abbasid's Abbott Abbott's Abby Abby's Abdul Abdul's Abe Abe's Abel Abel's By 1980, the Times was respected internationally for its investigative journalism and its coverage of Central America, especially of the Nicaraguan revolution and the Iran-Contra affair. It offers excellent facilities, including a heated swimming pool, tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, saunas and exercise equipment, and a restaurant. The South American countries include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Assistance initiatives in the 1990s concentrated on democratic policies, modernizing the administration of justice, and sustainable development. Schooling is obviously not adequate to meet the needs in rural areas. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington or one of Costa Rica's Consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements before shipping any items. These problems include common diarrhea, amebic dysentery, and bacillary dysentery. Persons who overstayed previously may be denied entry to Costa Rica. The average annual rainfall for the country is more than 250 cm (100 in). They often wave vehicles to the side of the road for inspection. U.S. citizens have been victims of sexual assaults both in cities and in rural areas. Costa Rica's capital city, San José, is located in the center of the country. The country has an extensive road system of more than 30,000 kilometers, although some of it is in disrepair. Deposits of manganese, nickel, mercury, and sulfur exist but remain unexplored. Most parts of the country are accessible by road. The fatality rate for pedestrians and those riding bicycles and motorcycles is disproportionately high. Persons offered an investment opportunity in Costa Rica promising interest above that generally available may wish to check with the Costa Rican government's Superintendencia General de Valores, which lists investment opportunities that are legally registered and authorized to offer investments. Dole and Chiquita have a large presence in the banana industry. Languages: Spanish, with Jamaican dialect of English spoken around Puerto Limon. The National University and the State University at Distance have an open admissions policy. Accessed January 2001. Costa Rica's economy is based primarily on agriculture, light industry, and tourism. Watch full episodes, specials and documentaries with National Geographic TV channel online. Exit Procedures for Costa Rican Citizens: Costa Rican children may only depart the country upon presentation of an exit permit issued by immigration authorities. The Picado family owns the cable network, Cable Tica, and Channel 7. Many early government leaders, including the first president of Costa Rica, Jose Maria Castro, were former teachers. Other important nontraditional agricultural products are hearts of palm, ornamental plants, and macadamia nuts. These programs are below standards developed by schools in the U.S. and all such instruction is in Spanish. For nearly three centuries, Spain administered the region as part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala under a military governor. Local fruits and vegetables are of good quality. Costa Rican consulates are located in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan, San Francisco, and Tampa. Late model sports utility vehicles and high-end car models are popular with carjackers. Naršyti vietoves. meters; passengers should insist that they be used, or at least determine the fare at the start of the trip. CAFTA has not yet been ratified either by the U.S. or Costa Rican legislatures. In 1995, FUNBAMBU (The Bamboo Foundation) was established to take over the program. At 19,730 square miles, about four-fifths the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica is, with the exception of El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America. Costa Rica used to be known principally as a producer of bananas and coffee, but pineapples have surpassed coffee as the number two agricultural export. Locating and adopting children abroad can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience. The government is taking action to protect women against domestic violence and abuse, including passing laws and providing services to victims. The value of imports continued to rise into 1998; after 1997 the value of imports as compared to exports was balanced. Roman Catholicism, the predominant religion, is the official religion of the state; however, the constitution guarantees religious freedom and this right is generally respected in practice. There is also a voluntary program for the self-employed. This began a trend continued until today with only two lapses: in 1917-19, Federico Tinoco ruled as a dictator, and, in 1948. Baldivia, Hernán, ed. Most of the charges included instances of aggression against the press when the colegio failed to back individual journalists, radio and television stations, and newspapers, motivated by the licensing board members' conservative political alliances with the national government. Registration and Embassy Locations: Americans living or traveling in Costa Rica are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration web site and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Costa Rica. About 70 percent of these occurred in the public sector. "Estadísticas Agropecuarias." Cuba opened a consular office in Costa Rica in 2001. The parauniversity offers short study courses that take two or three years. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations. you'll get back words like "checkuador". Angel Gonzalez, who is based in Florida, partially backs Channels 4 and 9. However, this strategy relied on deficit spending, which meant that the Costa Rican government was spending money that it did not have. A professional Coast Guard was established in 2000. The United States and Costa Rica have a history of close and friendly relations based on respect for democratic government, human freedoms, free trade, and other shared values. Public debt has risen as a result, to a point where it represents more than the total of goods and services produced by the country, and thus represents a major source of economic instability. Ph.D. A coordinating commission consists of the ministers of home affairs, education, and planning, as well as representatives from the Office of Higher Education Planning, and the rectors of the four state universities oversee the funding for higher education. From 1990 to 1994 Costa Rica's GDP per capita recovered 10 percent, double the regional average. Between 1990 and 1995, the country lost an average of 3% of its forests and woodlands annually. There are several periodicals and magazines available, the most popular of which is the general interest weekly Esta Semana, with a 1995 circulation of 27,000. Additionally, many arriving families fail to identify and contact the school they wish to use before arrival. There have been some vexing issues in the U.S.-Costa Rican relationship, principal among them longstanding expropriation and other U.S. citizen investment disputes, which have hurt Costa Rica's investment climate and produced bilateral tensions. Costa Rica achieved universal primary education in 1980. The persistence of inflation has led to periodic currency devaluation in order to protect the competitiveness of Costa Rican exports. Most of the wood was wasted by burning or rotting, and there has been little incentive for conservation or reforestation. Santo Tomas University closed in 1888, just 45 years after opening when Fernandez decided to focus on secondary school education. Attendance—99% grades 1-6, 71% grades 7-9. In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated special procedures for minors at entry and exit points. Money changers on the street have been known to pass off counterfeit U.S. dollars and local currency. Their colonial status ended without any local combat in 1821 when Mexico won independence. The two countries share growing concerns for the environment and want to preserve Costa Rica's important tropical resources and prevent environmental degradation. These regulations can be quite complicated and include the application of local tax laws. Travelers should use licensed taxis, which are red with medallions (yellow triangles containing numbers) painted on the side. Municipal council presidents are elected through internal elections conducted by council members each year, but mayors are elected directly by the populace through general elections. Unfortunately, Castro's rule was interrupted by William Walker, the U.S. citizen who believed in the manifest destiny of the United States to rule other peoples. Whites and mestizos (mixed white and Amerindian) account for 94% of the total population. Telephone: (506) 239-0376 E-mail:[email protected]. Well over half of that investment has come from the United States. "International Labor Statistics.". Languages: Spanish, with a southwestern Caribbean Creole dialect of English spoken around the Limon area. During the tumultuous 1980s, then President Oscar Arias authored a regional peace plan in 1987 that served as the basis for the Esquipulas Peace Agreement. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/. The government's policy aims at maintaining a neutral currency value by comparing domestic inflation to an index of international inflation rates. In recent years, Costa Rica has successfully attracted important investments by such companies as Intel Corporation, which employs nearly 2,000 people at its $300 million microprocessor plant; Proctor and Gamble, which employs nearly 1,000 people in its administrative center for the Western Hemisphere; and Abbott Laboratories and Baxter Healthcare from the health care products industry. Costa Rica withdraws from Central American federation and declares complete independence. The University has a faculty of some 2,500 and a student body of more than 30,000. (U.S. citizens who have legal residence in Costa Rica, as well as persons who have both U.S. and Costa Rican citizenship, are still permitted to adopt Costa Rican children through government offices.) It is first of its kind in Central America. La Nación was close to the Nicaraguan Contras and served as a voice for their cause during the U.S.-backed Contra-Sandinista war of the 1980s. A Political and Economic Dictionary of Latin America. U.S. citizens may also register in person at the Embassy, which is located in Pavas, San Jose, and may be reached at (506) 519-2000; the extension for the Consular Section is 2453. While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Documentary Requirements: The following documentation is normally required: Costa Rican Embassy and Consulate in the U.S.: The Costa Rican Embassy in the United States is located at 2112- S Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008 (telephone (202) 234-2945/46, fax (202) 265-4795). About 18.9% of the national budget was financed by public borrowing. For further information contact: Director, Linda Niehaus Apartado 4269, San Jose Telephone: (506) 273-3426 or (506) 273-3204 E-mail:[email protected]. This can also be accessed through the Department of State's web site athttp://www.state.gov. This creates a deficit that in 1996 amounted to 4 percent of GDP and, although it was lowered to levels closer to 3 percent during 1998, has resurged during the past 2 years. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site at where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found. The offices of the Comptroller General of the Republic, the Solicitor General, and the Ombudsman exercise oversight of the government. There have been disagreements regarding navigational rights in the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border area. His opponent, Oscar Arias Sánchez, brought in liberal American consultants, who used polling to identify what was worrying the large bloc of undecided voters and refocus the campaign appropriately. Students will not be accepted until the results are known. Many have trained in the U.S. or Europe, and some speak excellent English. With more than 2,000 dead, the 44-day civil war resulting from this uprising was the bloodiest event in 20th-century Costa Rican history, but the victorious junta drafted a constitution guaranteeing free elections with universal suffrage and the abolition of the military. In 1967, the university student association demonstrated for a larger school budget in front of the presidential palace and the legislative assembly. The central part of the capital is divided into four quadrants by Avenida Central running east and west, and Calle Central running north and south. In 1962, tariffs were raised so high that they virtually prohibited foreign competition in certain fields. From 1962 to 1966 the university also received funds from the United States and from the Ford, Kellogg, and Rockefeller Foundations. Instability in neighboring Nicaragua and Panama discouraged new investment and tourism in Costa Rica. Criminals roam freely day and night, and usually operate in small groups. This tradition survived the widened class distinctions brought on by the 19th-century introduction of banana and coffee cultivation and consequent accumulations of local wealth. Assistance initiatives in the 1990s concentrated on democratic policies, modernizing the administration of justice, and sustainable development. Costa Rica concluded negotiations with the U.S. to participate in the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (U.S.-CAFTA) in January 2004. of Public Security, Government, & Police: Ramos Martinez, Rogelio Vicente, Min. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. At the ITCR, 8 percent of students are higher class, 63 percent middle class, and 29 percent lower class. A good rule to follow is always to have your belongings in your line of sight or in your possession at all times. The politics of educational policy-making in Costa Rica. José Figueres Ferrer, a socialist landowner, led a civilian uprising, installed his own junta for 18 months, and restored democratic government, turning over the presidency to Ulate. The 1869 constitution made education free, mandatory, and tax supported. There have been times, however, when there have been unconfirmed allegations that the government withheld advertising from some publications in order to influence or limit reporting. Motor vehicle registrations in 2003 included 367,832 passenger automobiles and 230,048 commercial vehicles. Travelers should purchase an adequate level of locally valid theft insurance when renting vehicles, park in secured lots whenever possible, and never leave valuables in the vehicle. Compared with its Central American neighbors, Costa Rica has achieved a high standard of living, with a per capita income of about U.S. $4,700, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. Abandoned children may be living in a government facility, in a private orphanage or foster home or in the custody of a relative or friend. In rural schools, only 50 percent of enrolled students might attend on any given day because attendance depends on whether or not the students are needed at home to work for their families. This hampers the flow of investment and resources badly needed to repair and rebuild the country's deteriorated public infrastructure. Complicating the picture, a law to abolish private adoptions (those that are not handled by the Costa Rican National Council on Adoptions, but which are arranged by an attorney and approved by a judge) was struck down on July 3, 2003 by the Costa Rican Constitutional Court. All 3 entities are governed by a national board or commission, the Consejo Nacional de Supervisión Financiera. Former Nicaraguan contra leader Edgar Chamorro also testified in the World Court that CIA money was used to bribe journalists and broadcasters in both Costa Rica and Honduras. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. In 2004, the economy expanded by 4.2%, down from 6.5% in 2003; in 2005, the GDP growth rate was estimated at 2.7%. However, the growth of nontraditional exports picked up part of the slack, despite some adverse effects from much-enhanced competitiveness of competing Mexican exports. Although popular sentiment is antagonistic to privatization of public companies, there is a growing awareness of the need for these companies to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. Drivers with flat tires are advised to drive, if at all possible, to the nearest service station or other public area, and change the tire themselves, watching their valuables at all times. In foreign adoptions overseen by PANI, current policy prohibits adoption of children under four years of age, except in cases in which the child is part of a family group, or is difficult to place. Costa Rican law requires that, at the initial stage of the adoption process, both prospective adoptive parents must be in Costa Rica to sign the official consent documents before the Costa Rican court. A current list of those countries with serious problems in this regard can be found at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2005/2005_Special_301/Section_Index.html. The most significant change has been to transfer the governing authority from a position filled via an indirect popular vote to one filled by a direct popular vote. "Balance preliminar de las economías de América Latina y elCaribe, 2000." Its mild climate and trade winds make neither heating nor cooling necessary, particularly in the highland cities and towns where some 90% of the population lives. "Curricular Reform And The Changing Social Role Of Public Higher Education In Costa Rica." Since 1986 a flow of investment exceeding US$800 million has been devoted to developing the sector. The adult literacy rate for 2004 was estimated at about 95.8%, with fairly even rates for men and women. About one-fourth of the national government budget is devoted to education with two-thirds of this allotted to primary education. For more information contact Director, Larry Lyons Apartado 4941-1000 San Jose. The Inter-American Press Association called the court order a "fla-grant interference in the news media's editorial and journalistic independence." As a result, the trade deficit worsened from 1995 by almost 117% to $76 million. One of the only newspapers to originate outside of San José is El Sol de Osa, a general interest newspaper published in Puerto Jimenez.