According to Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez, former president of the Central Bank, low oil prices and raw material favored Costa Rican economy this year. In addition, the country has achieved to keep low-price growth (inflation), stability in the exchange rate and a satisfactory growth of the economy.
According to this specialist, the economy is growing about 4%, a rate that is positive in the global context.
The former president of the Central Bank thinks that other factors have been evident during the year, such as a the dollarization of credit in the first half of the year, for a stable dollar exchange rate.
In addition, Guttiérez thinks that the indicators seem to inform about a better use of the state’s resources towards poor people.
What is weird is that even though the economy is growing, the number of employed people has decreased, but the unemployment rate is not affected. These are people who are looking for a job and cannot find it,
stated Gutiérrez.
The economist described that the new unemployed people usually have very low levels of education and the current economy doesn’t generate jobs for them. As consequence, they are excluded.