Abstract
In 1981 Costa Rica was the first Latin American country to suspend its foreign debt servicing.1 While many of the issues that caused concern during the 1980s are no longer relevant, the debt crisis continues to affect the macroeconomic situation of many Third World countries. In 1991 there was considerable concern when the Costa Rica UNDP Index for Human Development (IHD) dropped two places from 42. Although six western hemisphere countries were ranked above Costa Rica — Canada, USA, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Chile — countries such as Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Qatar and Cuba were all ranked lower. In 1989, Costa Ricans enjoyed a life expectancy of 74.9 years, a literacy rate of 92.8 per cent and an annual per capita income of US$1780.
The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance, support and ideas of José Rafael Brenes, Olegario Sáenz and Victor R. Vargas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Atkinson, A. B. (1975) Economics of Inequality (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
Bacha, E. L. (1990) ‘A Three-Gap Model of Foreign Transfers and the GDP Growth Rate in Developing Countries’, Journal of Development Economics, no. 32.
Bagchi, A. K. (1991) ‘Democracy and Development’ (Calcutta) mimeo.
Bulmer-Thomas, V. (1985) ‘Centroamérica desde 1920: desarrollo económico en el largo plazo’ (Central America from 1920: Long-Term Economic Development), Yearbook of Central American Studies, vol. 11, no. 1.
Buimer-Thomas, V. (1986) ‘Cuentas nacionales de centroamérica desde 1920’ (National Accounts for Central America from 1920), Yearbook of Central American Studies, vol. 12, no. 1.
Chenery, H. B. and Bruno, M. (1962) ‘Development Alternatives in an Open Economy’, Economic Journal, vol. 72, no. 1.
Corbo, V. and Rojas, P. (1992) ‘World Bank-Supported Adjustment Programs’, in Corbo, V. et al. (eds), Adjustment Lending Revisited (Washington, DC: The World Bank).
Dabene, O. (1986) ‘Three Paradigms, Two Concepts and a Formula about Costa Rican Political Stability’, Yearbook of Central American Studies, vol. 12, no. 1.
de Pablo, J. C. (1991) ‘Como fracasar rotundamente como ministro de economía’ (How to Fail Soundly as Economics Minister), in Ramírez, N. (ed.), Economía y Populismo (The Economy and Populism) (San José: INCAE).
Duff, E. A. and McCanant, J. F. (1968) ‘Measuring Social and Political Requirements for System Stability in Latin America’, The Political Scene Review, vol. 62, no. 4.
ECLAC (1978) Statistical Yearbook (Santiago, Chile: ECLAC).
Gomez, M. (1990) ‘Public Opinion-making on Presidential Performance’, paper presented at the Meeting of Statisticians, University of Costa Rica.
Gutiérrez, I. and Rodríguez, L. A. (1983) ‘Análisis de Trayectoria’, University of Costa Rica (unpublished thesis).
Harberger, A. C. (1990) ‘Política Económica en Costa Rica: Diagóstico y Perspectivas’ (Economic Policy in Costa Rica; Diagnosis and Outlook), Políticas Económicas en Costa Rica (Economic Policy in Costa Rica), vol. 1, no. 72.
Hernández, O. (1991) ‘Análisis estadístico de la votación presidencial de 1990’ (Statistical Analysis of Voting Patterns for the President in 1990), Ciencias Económicas, vol. XI, nos 1–2.
Kernell, S. (1986) ‘Explaining Presidential Popularity’, American Political Sciences Review Washington DC, no. 72, pp. 506–22.
Kinder, D. R. (1981) ‘President, Prosperity and Public Opinion’, Public Opinion Quarterly, Washington DC, no. 45, pp. 1–21.
Lizano, E. (1990) Programa de Ajuste Estructural en Costa Rica (Structural Adjustment Programme in Costa Rica) (San José: Academia de Centroamérica).
Nerlove, M. (1989) ‘Unit Roots in Economic Time Series: An Introduction’, University of Santiago, Chile (mimeo).
Ramírez, N. (1985) El Empresario y su Entorno Económico (The Entrepreneur and the Economy) (San José: Educa).
Rodríguez, O. (1991) ‘Statistical Analysis of the 1990 Presidential Election’, Ciencias Económicas (Economic Science) vol. XI, no. 1.
Stimson, J. (1976) ‘Public Support for American Presidents’, Public Opinion Quarterly Washington DC, no. 47, pp. 310–24.
UNDP (1991) Desarrollo Humano: Informe 1991 (Human Development Report 1991) (Tercer Mundo Editores (Third World Publishers)).
UNDP (1992) Desarrollo Humano: Informe 1992 (Human Development 1992 Report) (Tercer Mundo Editores (Third World Publishers)).
Vargas, C. (1992) ‘La Reforma del Estado’ (Reform of the State), San José (mimeo).
Vargas, J. R. and Picado, R. (1992) ‘Efectos macroeconómicos del déficit fiscal’ (The Macroeconomic Effects of the Fiscal Deficit) San José (mimeo).
Vargas, J. R. and Sáenz, O. (1992) ‘La percepción ciudadana del nivel de éxito macroeconómico’ (The People’s Perception of the Success of Macroeconomic Policy), San José (mimeo).
World Bank (1990) World Development Report 1990 (New York: Oxford University Press).
Altimir, O. (1982) The Extent of Poverty in Latin America, World Bank Staff Working Paper no. 522 (Washington, DC: World Bank).
Bulmer-Thomas, V. (1983) ‘Economic Development over the Long Run’, Journal of Latin American Studies, vol. 15 (November).
CEPAL (1983) Satisfaccion de las Necessidades Basicas de la Poblacion del Istmo Centroamericano (Meeting the Basic Needs of the Population of the Central American Isthmus), E/CEPAL/MEX/1983/L.32.
Dréze, J. and Sen, A. (1989) Hunger and Public Action (Oxford: Clarendon Press).
Dunkerley, J. (1988) Power in the Isthmus: A Political History of Modem Central America (London: Verso).
Kanbur, S. M. R. (1991) ‘Malnutrition and Poverty in Latin America’ in Dréze, J. and Sen, A. (eds), The Political Economy of Hunger, vol. 3 (Oxford: Clarendon Press) pp. 119–54.
Ramírez, N. (1989) ‘Costa Rica: Stabilization and Structural Adjustment’, in Lindenberg, M. and Ramirez, N. (eds), Managing Adjustment in Developing Countries (San Francisco, California: ICS Press) pp. 71–87.
Skidmore, T. E. and Smith, P. H. (1989) Modern Latin America (New York: Oxford University Press).
UNDP (1991) Human Development Report 1991 (New York: Oxford University Press).
UNDP (1992) Human Development Report 1992 (New York: Oxford University Press).
World Bank (1982) World Development Report (Washington, DC: World Bank).
World Bank (1991) World Development Report (Washington, DC: World Bank).
World Bank (1992) World Development Report (Washington, DC: World Bank).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1995 International Economic Association
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Vargas, JR., Bagchi, A.K. (1995). Democracy: A Key to Development in Costa Rica?. In: Bagchi, A.K. (eds) Democracy and Development. International Economic Association Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24076-0_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24076-0_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-24078-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-24076-0
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)