The answer to the question of what makes the difference in categorizing these different levels of country development is “PRODUCTION”. First World countries produce more on a per capita basis than do Developing, or Third World Countries.
Production generates the necessary tax revenue base to support the other aspects of the “social good” of Society, such as better infrastructure and higher levels of education, to raise the level of development of a country, ultimately to a First World status.
The elevation through the various categories from Third World to First World status generally occurs by reason of a gradual socialization of the population into a more productive work-ethic through education. An important element for this transition to occur is a national pride instilled in the population by strong and honest political leaders, geared toward making members of a society more productive as individuals.
At the moment, I would categorize Costa Rica as a Developing Country. Although infrastructure meets a supportable level of development and basic public education is better than neighbouring countries, both still lag behind the standards set in First World Countries.
A stronger and more productive work-ethic will only develop with both a better public education system (having teachers who are able to teach) and the strong and honest leadership of the Country by politicians, who indeed put the welfare of the Country first above that of themselves, their family, and their friends.
A trait that I have noticed, existing particularly amongst professionals, Government employees, and the politically connected, which I consider to be damaging toward the development of the Country to a First World status, is a level of arrogance and a jealousy for the success of their peers, manifested most commonly by the general “stone-walling” and “obstructionism” in decision-making by those groups in Society.
Only when a strong national pride is instilled in the population as a whole, of wanting the Country to progress to the First World category of development, will such be achieved.
Blah blah blah – more gringo dogma. If you want to live in a developed country so much them move there. Can you guys do anything but opine to get your name seen on the web? “a more productive work-ethic through education” Hahahha – what through gringo indoctrination! So we can be “free to work our entire lives away” in an efficient and effective manner to impress the expats who want this to be like the US? Look what your type did in Jaco – Ruined the skyline with 20 story unfinished condo project looming like an evil monument to greed. That is what you are really saying is that we should work harder to buy more, because we should want more material goods (bads). How has that model worked for the world so far??? Not too well – Can you say: mean rich people without soul, global warming, depletion of natural resources, and other greedy actions – basically you are saying that we are not good enough little drone ants because we are not greedy enough, our greed does not motivate us enough to work like the gringo. Takes one to know one I say. I think Ticos like being better than “Free to work our lives away.” We have an intuitive wisdom of what is really important. Something the gringo expats who write here seem not to be able to grasp. Thus, they will never understand what Ticos hold as MOST important.
Living the “good life” is the goal for all. I don’t think that Ticos need to work harder, only smarter; produce more of value during the hours worked, through an efficient and objective oriented work ethic, rather than the obstructionist approach commonly found that I previously described. I expect BD, that the standard of living that you enjoy is directly related to foreign investment in Costa Rica, not the strictly agriculturally based society that Costa Rica would have without it. I don’t disagree that there have been some irresponsible foreign investment examples in Costa Rica. However, this I believe, has largely occurred through again the lack of an appropriate work ethic by the Ticos charged with the regulation and permitting of such, or outright corruption by the same (bribes, etc.), amounting to a “greed motivation” in a less constructive format than seeking profits and employment opportunities for Ticos from the investment.
I am Tico as well (naturalized), have made Costa Rica my home for the past sixteen years and educated myself in Tico institutions. My article is not written as a complaint about Costa Rica, but in the spirit of wanting the best for Costa Rica, in achieving a fair and just First World life-style for all in the future. You BD, may be happy with the status quo, or better, that all foreigners leave Costa Rica, but a review of the daily Tico media would indicate that is not the objective of most Costa Ricans.
Thanks Costarick for a well written reply.
The meat of my point is the difference between what traditional Tico culture would define as the “good life” and what most gringos think it is.
I lament the transition from agricultural to service/tech etc. Agricultural society gave us the noble Tico culture. Hence the national anthem. My point goes deeper. Its not only about materialism its about those that bring their material culture here – and then refuse to see they are living among less material people – and rather than applaud them for their balance and nature – they seduce them with money to act against their culture. They corrupt them.
“You BD, may be happy with the status quo, or better, that all foreigners leave Costa Rica, but a review of the daily Tico media would indicate that is not the objective of most Costa Ricans.”
First of all the daily media almost everywhere is the enemy. Period. They all have an agenda. I am even sorry to see that you wrote that, that you judge the pulse of our people by the media. Sad. But you seem to be a smart person so maybe you can see the soulful side and realize that media kills soul. Its the gringo indoctrination tool of choice.
I was happy with the staus quo 25 years ago! LOL. We are now on a slippery slope where “Tico culture” is evaporating with the device craze and the foreigners who refuse to see the goodness of living simply, and rather bring their “culture of domination and money and material status symbols”, or should I say almost force Ticos to go along with their materialist culture.
The problem with most gringos is they cannot go back to a natural state of being in the world. ~~~~ A state many Tico still occupy.
Gringos are so indoctrinated to believe in financial status, they cannot recognize the goodness of a society that years ago figured out a style of community hierarchy that did not revolve entirely on money. Not so long ago there was no money here. The change you see, the diminishing Tico culture, is from the plague of money arriving here. It kills culture like missals killed the American Indians, Now everyone has money but believe me money was very scarce here at one time.
Without much money, Ticos based their community standing on who greeted you, how they greeted you, how many greeted you, and did they remeber your children’s name, and did you walk behind their father Hurst on the way to the cemetery and did you contribute to the local community events etc etc.
I am sure for the most part this will fall on deaf ears, as a culture indoctrinated to work all their lives to have the latest gadget and fill a storage unit full of crap they will never use will not have a clue as to how organically beautiful a non-money dominated culture is. It has been said, “the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.” And in my experience gringos for the most part are money lovers. They would sell out Costa Rica (many have) in a heart beat for a new car, or over-develop a beautiful peace of property so they can have more of what they love: money.
As I stated before – Gringo culture (oxymoron) does not value what is truly important. I come from that culture, and although I love my family and friends there, I dislike their culture (I no longer claim or live that culture). que te parese mai?
Look, The U.S. work week is 40 hours and the Tico work week is 48 hours. They aither work 10 hour days or only have one day “free”. Productivity is a management issue. If we are talking industry, the Ticos are fine and work hard, if we are talking government the cultural goal has been to work less, get a pension and go home early. Why is this so different from the U.S. and Europe who argue for a 4 day work week, less hours and more family time?