The period Costa Rica Real Estate between 1950 and the late 1970's was a "golden era" characterized by impressive economic, social and demographic growth. This utopian period, however, couldn't last forever. In 1980, utopia gave way to crisis. The inflation, the "colon" (national currency) devaluation, Costa Rica Real Estate the welfare system expenses and the decrease in prices of exports, destroyed the once grand economy of Costa Rica. The country found itself bound by a huge per-capita debt.
By the mid 1980's, the situation had improved Costa Rica Real Estate somewhat. In 1986, President Oscar Arias Sanchez, concentrated on resolving belicose problems in the region. He formulated a peace plan that was signed by five Central American presidents in 1987, and which won him the Nobel Peace Prize. Another Costa Rica Real Estate important happening during this decade, was the Costa Rica Real Estate beginning of a serious tourist industry in the country. The 1990's have witnessed its growth and specialization through improvements made in the national parks and in the hotel infrastructure. In the present time, the two large tendencies in tourism Costa Rica Real Estate are the arrival of large international hotel chains and the concentration on ecotourism.
After President Arias, three other presidents have been elected. An Costa Rica Real Estate interesting fact about the elections that followed that of Arias, is that two of the candidates were sons of the main rivals during the Civil War of 1948. Calderon's son was president from 1990-1994, while Costa Rica Real Estate Figueres' son ruled the country from 1994-1998. This illustrates the flexibility of the Costa Rican democracy, which allows the election of candidates that represent generations of rivalry, one after the other. The current Costa Rica Real Estate president is Miguel Angel Rodriguez, who belongs to the Social Christian party, which has its origins with Calderon's followers, after the 1948 Civil War.
The decade of the 90's has witnessed a Costa Rica Real Estate new tendency which threatens to Costa Rica Real Estate dismantle the moderate socialism that has characterized most governments since the 1948 war: neo-liberalism. This philosophy insists in the privatization of Costa Rica Real Estate state-run institutions, such as the ICE (national electricity company), the INS (national insurance institute) and RECOPE (oil and gasoline institute). These monstrous monopolies would definitely benefit from the efficiency and professionalism of private enterprises; however, the neo-liberal outlook sacrifices social welfare in favor of ideals such as efficiency and profit.
It's difficult to predict what all of the Costa Rica Real Estate consequences of the neo-liberal approach will be, since it's just beginning to be felt in all aspects of Costa Rican life. However, it's obvious that the era of bureaucratic institutions and of social welfare programs, is reaching its end. As with any major change, Costa Rica Real Estate a group of people will suffer, while another will benefit from it. Costa Rica's economic and political stability point to the fact that the majority and not the minority, will benefit Costa Rica Real Estate from these changes.