Publisher's Synopsis
Costa Rica has recorded many social and economic achievements and currently enjoys one of the highest levels of well-being in the OECD. But progress has come to a standstill in most recent years and challenges have emerged along several social and labor market dimensions. Existing policies are outdated and no longer effective in today's dynamic, export oriented economy which requires greater flexibility and more high skilled and technically skilled workers. How can Costa Rica better respond to the challenges of technological change and globalization whilst minimizing the transition costs it endures as it moves to a higher and a more sustainable path to inclusive growth? This report provides comprehensive analysis of Costa Rica's policies and practices compared with best practice in the field of labor, social and migration from across the OECD and other countries in the Latin American region. It contains several recommendations to tackle key challenges facing Costa Rica, including low labor utilization, increasing inequality, high poverty and high-risk economic exclusion especially of the low skilled and migrants. This report will be of interest in Costa Rica as well as other countries looking to promote a more dynamic and an inclusive economy.
