Introduction Costa Rica, Otherwise Known As ‘Rich Coast”, Is the Beautiful Country Located in the North West Region of Central America

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Introduction Costa Rica, otherwise known as ‘Rich Coast”, is the beautiful country located in the North West region of Central America. This stunning country is not only home to many people, but to a wide variety of plants and animals. Costa Rica is known for many famous items. For example, coffee was the first major export shipped out of Costa Rica in the early 19th century. Until the 20th century, coffee was Costa Rica’s main principal source of wealth. Between the history, topography, climate, and geography, Costa Rica is an amazing country inside and out. Unfortunately, the country of Costa Rica suffers immensely from an extreme environmental problem. About 20,000 acres of land in Costa Rica is deforested annually. In fact, only a quarter of the original forest in Costa Rica is still standing. These are significant numbers, especially when you add in that it all happened in a short amount of time. The main source to this problem is that logging companies will tear down many acres of forest, just to find one specific species of a plant or animal. Everything that was torn down is left to rot, which causes extreme deforestation. Also, farmers are known to clear out forest in order to make room for their cattle, since the beef industry is booming in Costa Rica. The problem of deforestation has been somewhat ignored in Costa Rica, and it’s time to stop destroying homes of innocent plants and animals. The non-profit organization that will be created to target the problem of deforestation is called Trees for the Tropical. This organization will work towards restocking the desperate forests in Costa Rica. This project will cover every aspect of Costa Rica that’s imaginable. First it will cover the lifestyle and cultural part of Costa Rica. Such as language, transportation, religion, clothing, education, diet, housing, and population. These research papers consisting of the above topics, will deepen the understanding of the history and customs of Costa Rica. Of course there has to be a political side to every country. This project will go into depth on the labor laws, trade laws, economic laws, and political laws in Costa Rica. By becoming more informed on the political side of Costa Rica, it makes for more educated decisions to be made when it comes to the non-profit organization. Costa Rica is blessed with many affective laws that could definitely benefit the growing problem of deforestation. The non-profit organization Trees for the Tropical can help eliminate deforestation immensely. By selling t-shirts, hosting fundraisers, and receiving donations, Trees for the Tropical will be able to purchase trees that will be planted in the tropical forests in Costa Rica. Trees for the Tropical will be partnering with Costa Rica University, and will be donating the money raised so that they can go out and plant the trees. The reason Trees for the Tropical will be giving the raised money to Costa Rica

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

University, is so that there can be professional opinions when it comes to picking out and planting the trees.

Deforestation Costa Rica’s forests are home to thousands of plants and animals, which a majority of these species are not found anywhere else. Too often such big problems don’t receive as much attention as they should, such as deforestation in Costa Rica. In fact, only a quarter of the original forest is still standing in Costa Rica. The sight of gigantic logging trucks thundering down the road of Costa Rica has become a daily sight in this innocent country. The most devastating part about the deforestation problem in Costa Rica is the fact that an entire area of trees will be cleared in order to find one specific species of tree. Deforestation in Costa Rica affects the ecosystem, soil, and innocent people. Deforestation is also known as the clearing of the Earth’s forest on a massive scale. Costa Rica is suffering from deforestation so heavily, due to the lenient laws made by the forest service. Also, logging companies in Costa Rica don’t exactly discriminate when it comes to deforesting. The need for cattle ranching in Costa Rica occupies the rest of the causes of deforestation. Since Deforestation Rates Annually the 1950’s, more than 70% 60% of Costa Rica has 60% been destroyed to 50% create room for cattle. Costa Rica has such 40% good ground for cattle 30% to live on that during 20% the 1960’s the United 10% States even offered them millions of dollars 0% Costa Rica United States to keep their beef production steady. Unfortunately there are many reasons behind the deforestation in Costa Rica, which has led to several ongoing problems.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

The people in Costa Rica are affected by deforestation in a few ways, but mainly by the environmental problems that are caused. The process of clearing out thousands of trees at a time can actually result in land erosion. Once the land erodes, this can become a serious safety hazard for the people in Costa Rica. When a patch of trees is removed, the soil under the surface is stripped of the roots that supply its structure and support. Once the support is taken away, water and gravity are able to cause the land to move. This significant problem can eventually turn into a major flood, loss of hydroelectric, and takes away obvious wood resources. Deforestation also takes away many forestry jobs from innocent people. Unfortunately, the problem of deforestation is similar to a life cycle. Once you take the main source of life away, then everything that relies on it starts falling apart.

Attempting to eliminate the high deforestation rates in Costa Rica is extremely important. In fact, tropical forests, much like the ones Costa Rica has, are necessary for our climate to remain stabilized. Tropical forests remove the CO2 from the atmosphere and are able to store much more carbon than forests in rather temperate areas. If the problem of deforestation doesn’t get reduced, then the Earth’s ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere could be affected immensely. There are many obvious benefits that come with eliminated deforestation. Some benefits include improving the ecosystem, repairing the soil, and eliminating the risk of erosion.

Whether it’s damaging the ecosystem, eroding the precious soil of Costa Rica, or interfering with the lives of people, deforestation seems to accomplish it all. Starting a campaign to raise money for newly planted trees in Costa Rica could help immensely. All it takes is some inspired people, and a caring attitude that will replenish the innocent forests of Costa Rica.

Non-Profit

Mission Statement Trees for the Tropical is dedicated to replenish the deforested Tropical Roots of Costa Rica, and is willing to go to extreme extents to get the job done.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

What We Do Trees for the Tropical helps reduce the problem of deforestation in Costa Rica by fundraising money that is donated to the science department at the University of Costa Rica. The University of Costa Rica is a public university in Costa Rica, and is also the oldest college in the country. Trees for the Tropical donates the fundraised money to the biology department at the University.

Although providing the University of Costa Rica with the fundraised money, none of it could happen without the financial support. Trees for the Tropical creates grey shirts that consist of two trees that have roots in the shape of a heart. These simple yet stylish shirts are being sold for $10. For every t-shirt that’s sold, about one to two trees are planted in Costa Rica. Also, there are designated people that are in charge of putting on charity events, contacting local businesses, and doing everything possible to raise money.

By educating children in Costa Rica about an environmental problem that is very close to them, and by selling creative shirts, this non-profit idea will hopefully be nothing but successful. Trees for the Tropical hopes to spread awareness about deforestation, and help replenish the tropical forests in Costa Rica.

Ways You Can Help

Donate Money  Contact local businesses  Put on charity events (auctions, dinners)  Have money jars at every restaurant and store

Buy a product you are selling  T-shirts  Consists of two trees that make a heart from the roots  T-shirts will be made by local business in the US

Volunteer your time  Encourage people to volunteer at our fundraising events  Collect donations

Partnerships  The Costa Rica government- Could possibly help financially, and could allow the partnership to happen  University of Costa Rica- Not only give Trees for the Tropical professional help when it comes to actually planting the trees, but gives hands on educational opportunities for students.  Local Citizens- Everyone who helps at any charity events receives a free t-shirt

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Geographical Area Analysis From the edge of the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is one of the most favored countries in the world. With many different geographical landmarks in the country, Costa Rica holds many historical features. Costa Rica is also the only country left in Central America that doesn’t hold a standing army, which makes this country even more valuable. After elaborating on Costa Rica’s location, topography, and climate, many thriving business or economical ideas could be potentially created that can help benefit this country. Costa Rica is located in the North West part of Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (The World Factbook). Due to the location of Costa Rica being around many large seas, the main transportation that takes place is by water. This beautiful country also lands in between Nicaragua and Panama. The tropical coastal plains that make up Costa Rica rise all the way to mountains, active volcanoes, and the main plateau where most of the citizens in the country live. Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, is located in the central part of the country (The World Factbook). The stunning city of San Jose is not only the preferred city for the people of Costa Rica to live in, but it’s also very appealing for the tourists that come to see the offerings of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is known for having one of the most unique climates in the world. This tropical country is located so close to the equator, that it doesn’t have an actual summer and winter. The temperature in Costa Rica is mainly always between 70-80 degrees at the normal elevation, but in the highlands of the country the temperature is much cooler. However, Costa Rica does have a large window of rain every year. Between May to November, the people of Costa Rica see nothing but rain. The rainfall in Costa Rica averages around 100 inches a year, but it’s also common for the mountains to receive over 25 feet of rain a year. When it comes to the climate in Costa Rica, it all depends on the elevation in the country. The lowest point of elevation is the Pacific Ocean, while the highest point is Cerro Chirripo. The higher in elevation someone goes, the cooler the temperature becomes. The unique elevation in Costa Rica is extremely valuable to a business, due to being able to adjust transportation of a product to a lower elevation that receives less rain. Forests and volcanoes are the two main landmarks that make up most of Costa Rica. This country consists of many coastal plains that are separated by mountains that hold over 100 active volcanoes. Almost half of Costa Rica is used for agricultural purposes. Many forests in Costa Rica have been destroyed, due to needing room for cattle or many other similar reasons. With all the outdoor beauty that Costa Rica has to offer, there is however one specific attraction that appeals to tourists. The Arenal Volcano is a huge attraction in Costa Rica. It not only offers stunning scenery, but it also has hot springs, zip lining, and many hiking trails. This attraction itself keeps many outdoor and recreational businesses in full swing throughout the year. Another thriving attraction in

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Costa Rica is its coffee. This country keeps more than 70% of national coffee production running throughout the year. The soil in Costa Rica consists of a light touch of tropical flavor, and is also enriched in volcanic ash, which makes their coffee so irresistible. Clearly, the coffee that Costa Rica has to offer is the main reason why many businesses stay in stock. Geographically, the country of Costa Rica is basically picture perfect. When you put together the amazing scenery, weather, coffee, and landmarks, it’s safe to say that Costa Rica could fit about everyone’s needs. This country offers so many successful business opportunities, from the volcanoes to the coffee; any small or large business could thrive immensely from it. With the proper resources and necessary analysis, a majority of businesses should be able to work with the offerings of Costa Rica. The location of Costa Rica not only allows reliable transportation by sea, but also consists of the wonderful soil that blesses Costa Rica’s coffee industry. Any person could benefit from visiting the magical land of Costa Rica!

Economic Analysis 1 Classification- Part socialist and part capitalist Description- Costa Rica is mainly classified as socialism and capitalism. Capitalism means that all products of a large production are privately owned. Socialism means that a country has some industries that are privately owned. For example, the soil that produces the famous coffee in Costa Rica is privately owned, but the industry that sells it is owned by the government. Economic Statistics and Activity- The following information stated will go more in depth on the economy of Costa Rica. Resources- Renewable  Soil is the upper layer of the earth where plants are produced, and Costa Rica uses it to enrich their coffee.  Hydropower is hydroelectric power, and is produced in Costa Rica by their large river system and heavy tropical rainfalls.  Palm oil is the world’s most commonly consumed vegetable oil, and is extracted from palm oil kernels in Costa Rica and used for cooking.

Non-renewable  Gas is used to power heavy machinery, and Costa Rica uses it just like every other country. However, Costa Rica has the highest gas prices in Central America.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

 Electricity is used for various lighting, and Costa Rica uses electricity from their fossil fuels.  Crude oil is also used by Costa Rica and is also a non- renewable resource.

Industries  The coffee industry is huge in Costa Rica. It’s known for its high quality and efficient production. The coffee industry in Costa Rica brings in about $370 million annually. Some popular coffee companies in Costa Rica are Café Britt, Dota, and Naranjo.  Costa Rica is also known for their tourism industry. This industry accumulates over a billion dollars each year. The major tourist companies in Costa Rica are “Adventure Tours Costa Rica”, “Best of Costa Rica DMC”, and “Costa Rica Tours and Travel.”  Costa Rica’s manufacturing and production industries are also very popular. One specific industry in Costa Rica is their baseball industry.

GNP and/or GDP Official Exchange Rate- One US dollar is equal to 535.151 Costa Rican Colon (Currency Converter). Total GDP Purchasing Power Parity-

7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% Costa Rica El Salvador Panama Nicaragua Total GDP

By analyzing the above data, it can be very beneficial to a possible business expansion in Costa Rica. The graph shows that the total GDP in Costa Rica is about $74.09 billion dollars, which is a good monetary value to all of the goods and services that were produced. Costa Rica also inherited a good GDP in a timely manner, which could benefit a potential business.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

GDP Real Growth Rate-

0% Costa Rica El Salvador Panama Nicaragua

The Real Economic Growth Rate is the rate that a country’s GDP grows within a year. My graph shows that Panama’s GDP grows at a much more rapid pace. Costa Rica’s GDP is at a more average rate of change. Gross National Income per Capita-

$60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $0 Costa Rica El Salador Panama Nicaragua United States GDP- Per Capita

After analyzing what the Gross National Income per Capita meant, it made sense that the US had a much higher number. I think the reasoning behind this is that the US is able to offer so many more jobs to people, unlike countries such as Costa Rica. When a country is able to offer more jobs, then their Gross National Income per Capita increases due to more money being consumed by citizens.

Economic Analysis II

International Trade Statistics In the following information, the Trade Statistics will be talked about more in depth.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Major Exports-  Bananas  Coffee  Cattle Description of Exports- Costa Rica contains various products that many different countries rely on. However, Costa Rica’s bananas, coffee, and cattle are their most popular exports (Nations Encyclopedia). Costa Rica produces such tasty coffee and bananas because of their soil. The soil in Costa Rica enriches their crops in many ways, and makes their crops rather appealing to other countries. Costa Rica also exports various meat products, due to their large variety of cattle. The countries landscape makes raising cattle in large groups very easy. Dollar Value of Exports- The value of the total goods exported is $9.756 billion. Export Partners-

Export Partners United States China Netherlands Mexico United Kingdom

Major Imports-  Integrated Circuits  Refined Petroleum  Cars

Description of Imports- Costa Rica is known for having many different products imported to them, to help them create something bigger. The US, China, Mexico, Japan, and Guatemala are the top countries that assist Costa Rica in imports. The most popular import in Costa Rica is refined petroleum, which makes up 12.3% of the country’s total imports.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Dollar Value of Imports- The value of the total amount of imports is $15.44 billion. Import Partners-

Import Partners

United States China Mexico Japan

Problems of Scarcity- Costa Rica is the 85th largest importer in the world. That may not sound like a lot, but when you think about how many countries are in the world, that statistic is tiny. Costa Rica definitely has some scarcity in electrical products. For example, their most commonly imported items are integrated circuits. Costa Rica uses those for electrical building, and much more. These circuits can function as an amplifier, electronic memory, a timer and much more. Balance of Payments- Costa Rica has a trade deficit of $15.44 billion. Trade Balance- After analyzing Costa Rica’s economy and poverty levels, it made sense when the country was labeled as a deficit. Being a deficit country means that the country itself has more products coming in then going out. The difference between a surplus country and a deficit country is important for someone to understand, especially when you tie in the economy. Costa Rica is one of the poorest countries in Central America, and also lacks many basic materials, which means they have no other choice than to import goods from other countries. Exchange Rates- The definition of an exchange rate is “the value of one currency for the purpose of conversion to another”. Exchange rates are very important to understand, especially when traveling to another country. In Costa Rica, one “Costa Rican Colon” equals 0.0019 US dollar. That is an insane advantage to the US. However, if someone in Costa Rica were going to travel to the US, they would be at an extreme disadvantage.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Name of Currency- The name of currency in Costa Rica is “Costa Rican colon”.

Inflation Rate-

4.50%

4.00%

3.50%

3.00%

2.50%

2.00%

1.50%

1.00%

0.50%

0.00% Costa Rica Nicaragua Panama El Salvador

An inflation rate means the calculated amount of a 12 month section. As seen in the graph, Nicaragua almost has an abnormal inflation rate. However, Costa Rica actually has an average inflation rate. Unemployment Rate-

Unemployment Rate 10.00% 9.00% 8.00% 7.00% 6.00% 5.00% 4.00% 3.00% 2.00% 1.00% 0.00% Costa Rica Nicaragua Panama El Salvador

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Costa Rica actually has the highest unemployment rate compared to the other three countries. This may be because of the lack of business in Costa Rica.

Political System

Introduction Costa Rica is mainly a socialist country. Costa Rica provides free education, healthcare, and social security. This could be very beneficial when considering my non-profit organization. Trees for the Tropical is going to partner with Costa Rica University. Since the citizens in Costa Rica receive free college education, that means the tree planting will be in the best hands. People in Costa Rica get to choose what they major in and what they will pursue a degree in, so whoever goes into the science program is obviously very passionate about it. As far as negotiating goes, it’s said to be pretty straight forward. Costa Rica is a very peaceful country, and never runs into political disputes.

Government Type/Political Structure Costa Rica has a democratic republic, which means it has both republic and democracy.

Branches of Government The legislative, executive, and judicial are the three branches of the government. Each branch has a different responsibility. The legislative branch consists of two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives. This branch is in charge of making laws. The executive branch is in charge of carrying out the laws, and consists of three very important parties. The President, Vice president, and Cabinet members. The judicial branch is responsible for evaluating the laws created. This branch consist of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country. Political Parties  Democratic Party- a government by the form of people, supreme power is weighed by the opinions of people  Republican Party- opposite of democratic, the government only intervenes when people get frustrated

Leadership  Chief of State- President Luis Guillermo Solis  Head of Government- President Luis Guillermo Solis  Vice President- Helio Fallas Venegas  Vice President- Ana Helena Chacon Echeverria  Cabinet- Selected by the President

Stability of Government In Costa Rica, the process of electing a president is basically identical to the United States. The president has limited powers. For example, they cannot override the legislative budget but they can appoint anyone to the cabinet without any approval. The

McKenna Frison Costa Rica president is elected by the majority of votes, and the vice presidents are elected at the same time. The election cycle last 4 years. Costa Rica is an extremely peaceful country. There is rarely ever any disputes that involve the government or anything like that. In 1948, Costa Rica completely abolished its military. The country of Costa Rica is more of a socialist country, because they provide everything for their citizens. This could be potentially dangerous to the country, if there was ever a hostile Muslim takeover.

Legal System The legal system is based on the Spanish civil code.

Suffrage  18 years of age

Flag  The flag has five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red (double width)

Trade Laws and Legal Analysis

Introduction- Costa Rica has a pretty unique trade agreement. By being a part of the Central American Common Market, the trading in Costa Rica has increased immensely. The Central American Common Market is composed of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. These countries help facilitate regional economic development though free trade and economic integration (Encyclopedia Britannica). Costa Rica has trade laws and requirements that have to be met when it comes to importing, just like any other country. In Costa Rica, it’s also important to be specific of what is being brought into the country, since it’s most likely being brought overseas.

Tariffs or Taxes- Costa Rica has a pretty strict trade law just like a majority of other countries. Costa Rica is a member of the Central American Common market (CACM), which is a group of countries that decide a common external tariff for products that are made and imported outside of the Central American Common Market. Two tariff examples in Costa Rica are home furnishings, which has a tariff rate in the range of 0-5%, and woven fabrics which have a tariff rate in the range of 0-9%.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Trade Laws- While reading about the trade laws in Costa Rica, I came across one of the first trade agreements that Costa Rica had. The Dominican Republic was the first trade agreement that was completely free, taking place between the US and Costa Rica. In fact, this trade agreement has turned into the third largest US export in Latin America. In 2013, the exports between Costa Rica and the US came to around $30 billion.

Just like any other country, taxes play a significant role when it comes to trading. Whether goods are being imported commercially or privately, it’s important to use the CIF method. The CIF method stands for “Cost, Insurance, and Freight”. The costs of all of that criteria, is then added up in the final shipping value. In Costa Rica, there is also a 13% sales tax, which is above average. When it comes to shipping across sea, it’s very important to calculate every necessary transportation resource.

Costa Rica also has some prohibited and restricted import laws. If someone were to import any pharmaceuticals, drugs, or cosmetics into Costa Rica, they would have to obtain a license from the Costa Rican Ministry of Health (Costa Rica Customs). The criteria is the same for imported food products, the Costa Rican Importer must issue out a permit. Other products that are banned from being imported into Costa Rica, usually just has to have a valid certificate instead of a license.

The Costa Rica importing laws are pretty strict when it comes to imported food. All imported food products are required to obtain a Spanish label that states the product name and a list of ingredients in order by the quantitative amount. There are other label requirements such as having a certificate issued by the USDA when important grain or frozen meats. The labeling laws are strict in Costa Rica, but it makes sense, especially with the risk of obtaining a life threatening disease from an unknown product.

Population

Introduction-

I think the birth rates, life expectancy rates, and the distribution of population are the three most important statistics when it comes to creating more business in Costa Rica. A huge part in creating a business, is having capable employees. No matter how demanding the type of work is, it’s helpful to have charts to compare how many potential employees Costa Rica has to offer. Also, by knowing the average life expectancy rates it is helpful when trying to expand business in Costa Rica. By having specific statistics like that, you can easily compare it to other countries to show the strengths and weaknesses that Costa Rica has.

Total Population-

The total population in Costa Rica is 4,814,144 people.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Growth Rates

GROWTH RATES 1.35% 1.30% 1.25% 1.20% 1.15% 1.10% 1.05% Costa Rica Panama Paraguay

Birth Rates-

Birth Rates Per 1,000 People 19

14 Costa Rica Panama Paraguay

My graph of birth rates shows that Costa Rica has a slightly smaller birth rate than the other two countries it’s compared to. I think that Costa Rica’s birth rate is lower, because of its population. The other two countries in the graph have a similar population size, but are still slightly larger. I think that plays a big part in why their birth rates are larger than Costa Rica’s.

Life Expectancy Rates-

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Life Expectancy (Years) 79 78.5 78 77.5 77 76.5 76 Costa Rica Panama Paraguay

It’s comparably noticeable that Cost Rica and Panama’s life expectancy rates are almost identical. I think this is because of how similar the two countries are. Not only are they located right next to each other, but they have the same climate, landmarks, and natural resources.

Distribution of Population- Distribution of Population 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 0-14 15-24 25-54 55-64 65+

Male Female

When it comes to expanding a business in a country, I think taking consideration of potential workers is very important. In Costa Rica, there is a pretty even age distribution, especially for women. This can be very beneficial when it comes to hiring people for a new business. Whether a business is looking for young, middle aged, or elderly employees, Costa Rica has a fair distribution of them.

Most Populated Cities-

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Population 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 San Jose Puerto San Alajuela Liberia Limon Francisco

In Costa Rica, the three most populated cities are San Jose, Puerto Limon, and San Francisco. San Jose is located in the Central Valley, and is the preferred area for people to live in Costa Rica. San Jose is also one of the safest and least violent cities in the whole region. The second most populated city in Costa Rica, is Puerto Limon. This city is one of the oldest cities on the continent. Puerto Limon has many ancient architecture pieces that are a big attraction for tourists. Also, Puerto Limon is most known for its famous cashews. The third most populated city is San Francisco, which borders San Jose. This particular city doesn’t have many landmarks in it, but it’s mainly known for the numerous motels inside of the city.

Diet and Nutrition

Typical Meals In Costa Rica, a typical meal consists of a blend of Native American, Spanish, African and many more combinations of cuisines. The most popular meal in Costa Rica is the traditional tamale with rice and beans. Eating habits in Costa Rica are pretty straightforward. It’s normal for people to eat very frequently, even while they are walking down the street. People in Costa Rica mainly consume large amounts of beef, chicken and pork.

Meat Consumption per Capita

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Meat Consumption Per Capita 70 63.5 56.4 60 51.1 50 41.9 40 30 20 10 0 Costa Rica Panama Paraguay Ecuador

Obesity Rates Obesity Rates 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% Costa Rica Panama Paraguay Ecuador

In this graph, it shows that Costa Rica has almost a 25% obesity rate. However, Panama has a significantly higher obesity rate, which is interesting. In the Unites States, the obesity rate is 68.8%, which is more than twice the obesity rate in Costa Rica.

Daily Calorie Intake per Capita Calorie Intake Per Day The daily calorie intake in 4,000 the United States is 3,770. Compared to Costa Rica, 3,000 there is a significant 2,000 difference. The United States consumes about 1,000 1,000 more calories than 0 Costa Rica does. Costa Rica Panama Portugal Belize

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Housing

Introduction As far as business is concerned in Costa Rica, there are many pros and cons when it comes to important decisions. Since almost half of Costa Rica lives in both rural and urban areas, that could be beneficial to some hands on business ideas. For example, my non-profit idea will involve getting some hands dirty, so luckily Costa Rica has an even distribution of people who are used to being outside in the country. However, a negative aspect when it comes to business in Costa Rica could be the lack of radio broadcasting. Usually advertising through the radio is pretty popular and successful, but there are many ways to work around it. To make up for the lack of radio broadcasts in Costa Rica, there are about 2.4 million internet users. This can be beneficial when wanting to use social media to broaden a non-profit campaign.

Typical Housing Structures In Costa Rica, a typical housing structure consists of a rather nice “shack”. A house in Costa Rica consists of about 3 rooms. The dining and cooking space is usually combined, and the bedrooms are very small.

Housing Statistics Person Per Room 1.2 1 0.8 0.6

People 0.4 0.2 0 Costa Rica United Uruguay Portugal States Country

This graph shows that Costa Rica has more people than rooms in a typical house. This graph also means that the United States has more rooms than people in a typical house.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Urbanization 100 80 60 40

Urbanization 20 0 Costa Rica United Uruguay Portugal States Country

This urbanization graph shows that in Costa Rica, almost half of the population lives in the rural and almost half of the population live in the rural areas of the countries.

Communications 1. Telephone Systems: In Costa Rica, 7.1 million people have a mobile cellular device. Also, 880,000 people have a land line in Costa Rica. In comparison with the other countries in the world, Costa Rica falls 82nd when talking about telephone systems. 2. Internet: In Costa Rica, there are about 2.4 million internet users. When it comes to specifically owning an internet connection, 147,258 people in Costa Rica do. 3. Television and Radio: There are 20 television broadcast stations, and 3 major radio broadcast stations in Costa Rica. It’s clear that in Costa Rica, watching television is more popular than listening to the radio.

Transportation Overview Transportation in Costa Rica consists of planes, buses, and taxis, just like many other countries. However, a unique transportation system in Costa Rica is horseback riding. Especially for tourists, this way of transportation is recommend when going from sight to sight. There are many horseback companies that offer a short cut across Lake Arenal, which normally takes a significant amount of time to go around. The most primary transportation in Costa Rica is by bus. The terrain of most of the roads in Costa Rica is rather rough, which causes citizens to rely on public transportation. In Costa Rica, 61% of middle class families own a car, while 28% of low-income families don’t.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Transport Analysis Roadways- Looking at the graph, it’s obvious that there are more Roadways unpaved than paved roads in Costa 40,000 Rica. This is why owning a car isn’t 30,000 that popular in Costa Rica. Having 20,000 less paved roads could potentially 10,000 cause problems with transportation, Kilometers but they can be worked around. 0 Transportation by air or water isn’t Paved Unpaved always the cheapest way, but it may Type of Road be the only way to get a product to a location safely.

Water and Water and Railways Railways- In Costa Rica, 800 there is more 700 waterways than 600 railways. This is 500 an expected 400 statistic, due to

Kilometers 300 the rough terrain that makes up 200 Costa Rica. 100 Transporting 0 goods and services by water may be much more difficult than in the air. That is because there is much more precaution that goes into transporting by boat. Also, even though there are more waterways in Costa Rica, products can only be transported a certain time of year, depending on the climate. This could potentially harm a business plan that relies on a consistent transportation route.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Ships and Airports-

Even though Costa Rica is Ships and Airports a country that’s surrounded 180 by water, they only have 160 one ship. This shows that 140 Costa Rica hasn’t taken 120 advantage of importing and 100 exporting goods by water, 80 Amount as much as they should be. 60 However, the amount of 40 airports that Costa Rica 20 has goes to clearly show 0 Ships Airports that they take more advantage of transporting goods by plane.

Labor

Job Market and Availability 1. How does one obtain a job? The process of obtaining a job in Costa Rica is the exact same as in the United States. There are many websites that help citizens in Costa Rica obtain a minimum wage job. However, if someone from a different country is wanting to be employed in Costa Rica, then they are supposed to apply for a work permit 90 days before arrival. 2. What is the minimum age to work in your country? In Costa Rica, the minimum age to obtain work is 15 years old. 3. What kind of benefits do employees have in your country? Employees in Costa Rica receive benefits that consist of a Christmas bonus, vacation pay, and long weekends with pay, termination pay, and insurance. 4. What the work force is like based on race, sex, or religion? The work force in Costa Rica has many laws that cover discrimination. The laws also prohibit sexual harassment in the Costa Rica work force. Industries- 1. What types of jobs are there? Some popular jobs in Costa Rica are joining the coffee business, teaching English, owning a business, and being a taxi driver. 2. What are the major types of industry that create jobs in your country? The coffee and tourism industries create the most jobs in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is constantly exporting out coffee, which creates many jobs in factories. Also, there

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

are thousands of tourists who specifically go to Costa Rica to receive amazing tours. 3. What sectors of employment? Sectors of employment in Costa Rica consist of real estate, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and service industries.

Workday 1. What are the hours in the typical workday and week? The typical workday is basically identical to America’s average workday. In Costa Rica, a normal day shift job will last about 8 hours per day. 2. What type of dress do employees wear to work? In Costa Rica, it’s normal for women to wear pants to work, rather than a skirt or dress. For men, it’s normal to wear a darker suit to work. Other basic expectations are that employers bathe daily, and wear clean clothing. 3. When holidays that most people don’t work and briefly what are they for? In Costa Rica, if an employee works on a national holiday then they get paid double their normal salary. Some national holidays in Costa Rica include Juan Santamaria Day, Holy Thursday and Friday, Independence Day, and Christmas. 4. What are typical rituals of conducting business? Presenting business cards, shaking hands, language etc. Typical business rituals in Costa Rica consist of being on time, bringing gifts, business cards in both English and Spanish, and it’s polite to only bring a spouse to a business dinner.

Education-

General Description- Education in Costa Rica is slightly unique in a few ways. In Costa Rica itself, there are over 4,000 schools that offer free and mandatory education. Every student is required to wear a uniform while attending school, due to less distraction of economic distinctions among classmates. The first years of school, otherwise known as primary education, is attended by mostly every child in the country between the ages of 6 and 13. However secondary education gives each child the choice between perusing a more academic or technical route. Compared to other countries, even the United States, the fact that Costa Rica allows their students to choose what route they are most interested in is very unique.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Enrollment Levels- Enrollment Ratio- (girls and boys) 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Costa Rica United States

In Costa Rica, there is almost an equal amount of boys and girls who attend school. However, in the United States, there is a much higher female enrollment in school.

Tertiary Rates 120.00% 100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 0.00% Costa Rica United States

This graph shows that the United States has much more college enrollment than Costa Rica does. The United States almost has twice as much enrollment than Costa Rica. Knowing other percentages of education statistics in Costa Rica, college is most likely not an option for most families.

Literacy Rates-

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

99.50% 99.00% 98.50% 98.00% 97.50% 97.00% 96.50% 96.00% 95.50% 95.00% Costa Rica United States Germany China Literacy Rates

This graph shoes the average percent of people above the age of 15 who can read and write. Surprisingly, a majority of the countries stated above, including Costa Rica, had very high literacy rates.

Chosen- 20

0 Costa Rica United Germany China States

In the graph above, I chose to compare the average school life expectancy. Which in other words means how long children stay in school. Costa Rica was in the middle, with an average of 14 years of schooling. It makes sense that the average years of schooling in the United States is 16 years, especially since their college enrollment is much higher.

Evaluation- After evaluating the education rates and ratios of Costa Rica, my non-profit business plan is looking bright. Compared to the United States, Costa Rica has much lower percent’s when it comes to education. That is because of many reasons, such as Costa Rica not having as much access to college scholarships or other similar tools as the United States. As far as my non-profit business plan is concerned, I am looking to target adults. Targeting adults is much easier than trying to coordinate children with school times and problems similar to that.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Clothing

Business Attire (paragraph and image) The typical business attire in Costa Rica is pretty similar to the United States. It’s very common for business men and woman in Costa Rica to take pride in their appearance. For men, a suit and tie is normal. However, in warmer climates throughout Costa Rica, a businessman man usually carries a jacket with them. Women in Costa Rica typically wear a dress for a formal meetings, but pants are more common in causal situations.

Clothing When tourists come to Costa Rica, they usually make the mistake of thinking that Costa Rica is a “sloppy” country. When really, the majority of people in Costa Rica are pretty neat dressers. The expected visitor’s attire would be a khaki skirt, a nice sleeveless shirt, and some sandals. Also, tourists typically take huge backpacks with them everywhere, along with their floppy straw hats (Tourist Guide).

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Costa Rica has quite the variety of ceremonial attire. The usual clothing for men is a pair of white cotton pants and shirt, with a red belt, handkerchief, and a straw cowboy hat. For women, their traditional clothing consists of a colored skirt that consists of the colors of the Costa Rican flag. Also, they wear a sleeveless fluffy ruffle shirt that usually has a ribbon embroidered in it. When it comes to traditional clothing in Costa Rica, wearing shoes is optional, which is something that’s unique about this country (Costa Rica Information).

Recreation and Leisure The country of Costa Rica is known for its tropical forests and amazing tourist sights. Between those two attractions, there really is no time to be bored in Costa Rica. From riding a tram over the forests, to bungee jumping, kayaking, diving, and many more activities, Costa Rica has everyone’s best interest at heart.

Costa Rica was blessed with beautiful oceans and waterways. Often, people will prefer to surf in their down time. Costa Rica has waves for the first time beginners to the pro surfers. Some of the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica are Playa Jaco, Playa Hermosa, and Santa Teresa. For the people who are really serious about surfing, there are national competitions on the beach of Playa Tamarindo. However, surfing in Costa Rica is mostly used for relaxation time and having fun with family and friends.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Chasing waterfalls is also a preferred activity by many people who live in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has amazing waterfalls throughout its country, and many of them are a major tourist attractions. One of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica is called the Catarata Llanos de Cortes. It’s located about a half hour outside of the central residential living area in Costa Rica. Visitors can climb up the rocks and sit underneath the water. The citizens of Costa Rica find sitting and listening the waterfall rather relaxing.

Although Costa Rica is known for loving salsa music, there are many other types of music that attract the attention of people. There are several Costa Rican bands that perform around the cities. People in Costa Rica enjoy attending local concerts because it allows them to let loose and enjoy themselves. Even if someone doesn’t speak Spanish, the concerts in Costa Rica are still a fun way to make friends and listen to some awesome tunes. Entry / Exit Requirements

 Passport must be valid for

length of stay  Tourist Visa not required for a stay less than 90 days  Yellow Fever vaccinations are required if arriving from specific countries  Passports must be in good

condition  Must have a proof of return, or airlines will refuse service

Language

Introduction In Costa Rica, the primary language spoken is Spanish. However, English is the secondary language spoken in Costa Rica. This criteria is very good business wise. In fact, English and Spanish are in the top three, out of the top ten languages of the world. This means that a majority of people in the word know how to speak English and Spanish. Therefore, when making business negotiations with other countries, it’ll be less likely to encounter a language barrier. National or Official Language The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Dialects or Minor Languages  The Caribbean Coast is the only place in Costa Rica that mainly speaks English.  The Boruca Indians speak Boruca, which is a tribal language that’s spoken by some elderly people in Costa Rica.  The Bribri Indians speak Bribri, which is spoken by 10,000 people in Costa Rica and Panama  Maleku is also a language spoken by Indians that’s spoken by only 500 people in Costa Rica and Panama. World Languages Top Ten Languages 1,400,000,000 1,200,000,000 1,000,000,000 800,000,000 600,000,000 Millions 400,000,000 200,000,000 0

Countries

World's Twenty Five Most Influential Languages from List25  English-There are 2 billion people in the world that speak English on a regular basis.  French-French is the most popular language after English, and is spoken in 25 countries.  Spanish- Spanish is the main language in Costa Rica. Spanish has almost 400 million native speakers.  Arabic- Arabic is the most international language spoken in the world. There are about 20 countries that use Arabic as a primary language.  Mandarin- Mandarin Chinese has almost a billion native speakers. That’s almost three times as much as any other language in the world.  Russian  Portuguese  German  Japanese  Hindustani

Religion

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

General Description A majority of people in Costa Rica identify themselves as Roman Catholics. Many town names in Costa Rica begin with San or Santa, which is similar to the phrase “God Bless”. Also, every city in Costa Rica has a Catholic church. Even though the Costa Rican government categorizes Catholicism as the state religion, they still allow free religion for everyone in the country. According to recent polls, 76.4% of Costa Rican’s are catholic, 13.7% of people are Evangelical Christians, 1.3% are Jehovah’s Witness, and 0.7% are Protestant Christian. There is also a remaining 8% that don’t have a religion in Costa Rica. Types of Religions Types of Religions

90.00% 80.00% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00%

Percent 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Catholic Evangelical Jehovah's Protestant No Religion Christians Witness Christian Religions

Catholic is the most common religion practiced in Costa Rica. Christian values are present in many parts of a Catholic in Costa Rica’s life. Also, town names in Costa Rica are usually named after Catholic terms. The second most commonly practiced religion in Costa Rica is Evangelical Christian. This religion is a type of Protestantism that mixes philosophies from a variety of religions, which forms certain beliefs in the Evangelical church (Costa Rica Culture). Effects of Religion The Government in Costa Rica has always maintained a close relationship with the Catholic Church. The Catholic religion has grown immensely in the past decade, which has encouraged the Government to have a close-knit relationship with the churches. In Costa Rica, religion is a vital part of the lives of a majority of the citizens. In fact, 85% of adults in Costa Rica admit that they were raised by the Catholic Church (Religion in Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, the Catholic religion is an important everyday practice. A majority of Costa Ricans demonstrates their Catholic faith at baptisms, weddings, and funerals too. Also, the Catholic religion is a required subject in schools in Costa Rica.

McKenna Frison Costa Rica

Works Cited

 "About Costa Rica, The Costa Rica Travel Guide." About Costa Rica, The Costa Rica Travel Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.

 Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.  "Costa Rica Geography." Geography of Costa Rica, Landforms. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.

 "Costa Rica Outdoor Activities." Go Visit Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.  "Costa Rica's Education System." Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.  "Education in Costa Rica." Community for Expatriates & Global Minds. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.

 "Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about Countries of the World, United Nations, and World Leaders." Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about Countries of the World, United Nations, and World Leaders. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.

 "Expat Focus." Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.  "Fashion." — Costa Rica Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.  "Get Insights By Country." By Country GlobalEDGE: Your Source for Global Business Knowledge. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.

 "Religion in Costa Rica." Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.