Costa Rica is widely recognized for being one of the most stable democracies in Latin America. It is also characterized for being a nation that has set forth policies that promote high social inclusion and has been able to minimize tremendous disparities that characterize the region. By abolishing its army in 1948, Costa Rica has been able to assign 6% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to education by Constitutional Law. Most recently, the Government is striving to increase that amount to 8% of the GDP.

Moreover, the Central American nation has shifted its production from agriculture to tourism and technology over the past 15 years. Almost a third of its territory is zoned as either National Parks or Biological Reserves. Still, the country faces many social and economic challenges with more than 20% of the population living under the poverty line.

Costa Rica is divided intro seven provinces: Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón and San José. Politically however, only two levels of governments exist: the Central Government and Local (municipal) governments.

San Jose

About San José The City of San José, with a population of 309,000, is the capital of Costa Rica and the principal municipality of the Province of San José. It is also the centre of the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM, by its Spanish acronym), which is comprised of 31 municipalities of the 4 Provinces that meet within the Central Valley of the country: Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia and San José. The GAM is a very important area for Costa Rica as it constitutes almost 60% of the nation’s entire population, 92% of its industries and 70% of the nation’s vehicle fleet. Intense urban sprawl, inadequate public transit and poor waste management capacity, among other urban infrastructure problems, contribute to the slow growth and development within the capital city of San José. Although the city has increased its population in 52% over the past three decades, it has the lowest growth rate among the 31 municipalities that make up the GAM and the 14 belonging to the San José Metropolitan Area. In contrast, these areas had an average growth rate of 160% and 190%, respectively, during the same time frame. Furthermore, the city has lost its place as a central business district and serves mainly as a thoroughfare between surrounding bedroom municipalities (mostly to the east) and business municipalities (mostly to the west). Successful revitalization of the city must be done by introducing both residential and commercial revitalization that is able to provide source of employment for its residents in the downtown area. This would hopefully create a city that is more pedestrian oriented and less car dependant.