All Work and No Play? Costa Rican Employment/Lifestyle FINAL

This topic submitted by Molly Thomas ( ThomasM8@muohio.edu) at 7:13 AM on 5/18/04.

Quicktime Movies: The '99 "Shore-to-Slimy-Shore" Race!!

Hannah Strange finishes in record time! Everyone had a lot of fun!

Tropical Field Courses -Interdisciplinary Studies-Miami University

When one thinks of Costa Rica, they probably think of tropical beaches, coffee, and bananas. Some would say that this assumption is correct, unless you are willing to look at all the aspects of this small, yet prosperous country. This ÒSwitzerland of Latin AmericaÓ is budding with industry and is trying to incorporate new types of exports, besides the common staples for which they are so greatly known. The people of the country are trying to adapt to new employment opportunities, while also looking to retain the traditional jobs that make the country so rich in culture.

The reason for Costa RicaÕs prosperous agricultural economy is due to the extensive climatic diversity within the country. The mountains and hills along with the fertile vallesy and coastal areas provide an ideal landscape for growing all sorts of goods. Bananas are definitely a main export of this country. This gigantic agricultural export provides jobs for people in the country, and also manufacturing and packaging jobs for workers elsewhere in the world.

Women in Costa Rica have been making great strides in relation to religion in recent years. Since new tech jobs have been made available due to the increase of corporations coming down to the country in order to save money production wise- women now make up about 30 percent of the workforce. This is a giant step for the entire country. Now they have gotten Costa Rica in a competitive cultural and economic race with the rest of Latin America. This country has been the most prosperous of the countries in its region, and this may be partially due to the relative respect that they have for the women. The women still comprise over half of the population (50.1 percent), but they hold roughly forty Ðfive percent of the managerial positions.

Although Costa Rica is slowly taking steps to become a little more like America (when it comes to industry), they still have a very different social system. Prostitution is legal there for women over the age of eighteen, and often the government does not try to enforce this limitation. In 1999, a law was passed that would prohibit the trafficking of women into Costa Rica, most likely for prostitution. Most of the society knows that this law will simply not be enforced, due to the relative corruptive activity of the law enforcement in that country. When women are unable to get work, or a decent wage, many turn to prostitution. Costa Rica is a gem of Latin America in terms of cleanliness and overall economy, so it is not hard to see why women from other countries would want to come there: higher wages and a better lifestyle. Prostitution is a booming employment opportunity for the women who do not enjoy a job as a housewife or a women in tourism services, and if they do not have an education, this might be their only option as well. We Americans may view ourselves as ÒaboveÓ legalized prostitution, yet the fact is that more women in prostitution have a better all-around lifestyle than some agricultural jobs.

Another group of people who have significantly different lives from our country are the children. Increasingly becoming more educated (Costa Rica has a ninety-three percent literacy rate), their school systems are among the best in the world. The increase of jobs coming to the country allows for the children to seek a job other than the regular agricultural job or service worker. Many English-speaking schools are also teaching kids a language that may increase their chances of getting a better wage because the children will eventually be bilingual, thus enabling them to communicate with a country that so influences the future of their own. Many young girls go straight from childhood to either a school service, or prostitution if they live near a city. Boys make up about seventy percent of the child workforce. Although child labor has dropped over the past ten years, one may wonder if the country is simply doing a better job of hiding this law-breaking fact.

No one can deny that Americans are a people of consumption, and in order to allow for this consumption, they must have money. Americans are very nicely compensated for their work, and in relation to Costa Ricans, their wages are inconceivable. Some would agree that the people of this country just have a simpler life, that their way of living does not warrant such a large amount of money, and this is partially true. Americans simply get paid much more than other countries, yet we use so much from others. Monthly minimum wage is now between 137 and 662 dollars, which is good in relation to their cost of living, yet quite low compared to other Western countries.

Squatters are people who develop land that is not supposed to be touched, and that has been an increasing job of many Latin Americans. Highly compensated for their work by large logging and farming corporations, it is simple to find unprotected land, exploit it for timber, and then use it for agricultural or cattle purposes.

Ecotourism is simply gigantic in Latin America, especially Costa Rica. Many people become involved in the hotel industry, as well as guides for rainforest travelers. Tourism brings in a massive amount of money for the country, and, although visitors have been down since September 11, many people still flock to this area due to its incredible beauty and relative safety.

Many men are involved in the booming agricultural industry, but also many have opted for a job in technical positions. Corporations are leaving the States in order to increase productivity, and many are coming to Costa Rica. The computer and banking industries are flourishing in this country, and many jobs are available. Most men even opt out of going to college, since in many cases a technical talent is more attractive to employers than an actual degree. Intel has been a huge employer to the country, and for this reason this computer part is now cheaper for us Americans since it has been made overseas and with lower wages being paid to the companyÕs employees.

Costa Rica is a very calm country, with some American metropolitan areas having more crime in one year than this country had since its revolution. Some say this could be due to the lack of a military and the high rate of literacy, however, it may also be due to the social system. Costa Rica is a country of unity, and their middle class is enormous. Although there are people living in poverty, the country has a much more normal distribution of wealth than its American relative. Also, the millionaires are not willing to let themselves be known in this country, because most of them are a result of the drug trafficking and production that is so prevalent in this country of theirs.

With the new employment opportunities and the advanced technologies that have snuck into their beautiful country, Costa Rica must be a very exciting place in which to live! Although the agricultural staples, such as coffee and bananas, provide a major boost for the economy, the services and the ambition of the people are what really sculpts this country. Costa RicaÕs willingness to accept and adapt to change, as well as the countryÕs stronghold on the people of the country, is what keeps this Latin American region growing. The people here are hard working, their work ethic is one that has been passed down for centuries, and hopefully centuries to come. The pressure to become a Latin American superpower will, with any luck, not prove to be detrimental for the country. Looking too far forward may allow the country to forget what they once were, and I think that if this occurred, all of Latin America would suffer.

Costa Rica Factbook
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cs.html

Traveling in Costa Rica
www.travel.state.gov/costa_rica.html

Costa Rica Facts
www.escapeartist.com

National Report
http://www.state.gov/gldrl/rls/nrrpt/2000/wna/746.htm

National Report
http://www.state.gov/gldr/rls/hrrpt/2002/18326.htm

Costa Rica People and Culture
http://www.play-costa-rica.com/paople-culture.html

What You DidnÕt Know About Costa Rica
http://www.ivytechfraud.com/costaricansunshadow.html

Costa Rica Traditions
www.infocostarica.com/culture/traditions.html

ÒEconomic Sectors.Ó Country Profile Costa Rica, 2003 p29 (9)

ÒLaw and Government.Ó Country Profile Costa Rica, 2003 New York, New York p51

Banker, M. 2004. ÒCoffee IndustryÓ 154(14)

ÒCoffee Exports Up 12 Percent.ÓCoffee Update February 2004. V 20.1