In addition to revealing that Fabricio Alvarado is in the lead, the survey of the Center for Research and Political Studies (CIEP) of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) revealed what are the most important problems for Costa Ricans in the face of the elections of February 4th: Unemployment, insecurity and corruption continue to occupy the first places.
Although in the electoral campaign various issues have emerged as priorities, political parties have not managed to position some of them as the central theme of their campaign, which has led to the absence of a clear discourse.
In the third quarter of 2017, the country’s unemployment rate got to 9.4 and was the highest reported in the year, although it was lower than the one from the same period in 2016. Despite this slight improvement, it still tops the list of concerns in the country. Nearly 30% of the respondents stated that this is the main problem that afflicts the country.
After unemployment, there’s insecurity and crime. According to data provided to the Center’s researchers, the country ended 2017 with the highest number of homicides in its history. 20% of the respondents ranked this problem second, although in October it had been surpassed by corruption, a problem that is currently in the third place.
The CIEP is surprised that, despite the country’s fiscal situation and the delays in transferring salaries and pensions in the public sector, this is not an issue of importance for Costa Ricans. Out of the 1,013 people interviewed, only 2% recognized it as a problem, that is, only 20 people approximately.
The last problem according to the survey is the infrastructure and the state of the roads.