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Costa Rica Productivity growth is driving convergence towards OECD countries. However, GDP per capita and labour productivity are still only around 30% of those of the upper half of OECD countries. Income inequality is high relative to OECD countries. Absolute poverty is low by Latin American standards, but almost no improvement has been made since 2010. Costa Rica has established a green trademark and an eco-tourism industry by protecting its abundant biodiversity and developing renewable energy sources. However, environmental pressures from urbanisation are growing. Costa Rica has accelerated its structural reform momentum recently. Concrete actions taken are the overhaul of labour laws, that came into force in July 2017, the roll-out of a modernised school curriculum, that is due to be completed in 2018, modifications to social security contributions aimed at reducing informal employment, a slight reduction in the number of minimum wage categories, and further alignment of corporate governance of state-owned enterprises with OECD guidelines. Further strengthening competition and reducing non-tariff barriers to trade, improving educational outcomes and tackling the high rate of informal employment remain priorities for boosting inclusive growth. Growth performance, inequality and environment indicators: Costa Rica A. Growth Average annual growth rates (%) GDP per capita Labour utilisation of which: Labour force participation rate Employment rate1 Employment coefficient2 Labour productivity of which: Capital deepening Total factor productivity Dependency ratio
2002-08 3.9 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.0 2.1 0.5 1.7 0.8
2012-18 2.0 -0.5 -0.5 0.0 0.0 2.2 0.9 1.3 0.4
GHG emissions per capita4 (tonnes of CO2 equivalent) GHG emissions per unit of GDP4 (kg of CO2 equivalent per USD) Share in global GHG emissions4 (%) * OECD simple average (weighted average for emissions data)
Gap to the upper half of OECD countries5 Per cent 0
-10 -20 -30 -40
B. Inequality and environment
Gini coefficient3 Share of national disposable income held by the poorest 20%
C. Gaps in GDP per capita and productivity are being reduced but remain large
Level
Annual variation (percentage points)
-50
2017 48 (31.7)*
2013-17 -0.3 (0)*
-60
4.1 (7.6)*
0.1 (0)*
2015 2.6 (12.3)* 0.2 (0.3)* 0.0
Average of levels 2010-2012-2015 2.7 (12.8)* 0.2 (0.4)* 0.0
-70 -80 GDP per capita
GDP per hour worked
-90
Source: Panel A: OECD, Economic Outlook Database; Panel B: OECD, Income Distribution and National Accounts Databases; International Energy Agency (IEA), Energy Database; Panel C: OECD, National Accounts and Productivity Databases. StatLink 2 https://doi.org/10.1787/888933954781