Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06SANJOSE2004, COSTA RICA'S INCREASING ECONOMIC INEQUALITY

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06SANJOSE2004.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06SANJOSE2004 2006-09-11 22:01 2011-03-21 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy San Jose
VZCZCXYZ0079
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSJ #2004/01 2542201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 112201Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6052
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002004 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN JASON MACK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA'S INCREASING ECONOMIC INEQUALITY 
 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  The World Bank's recent report on poverty in Costa Rica 
stressed the widening gap in incomes between skilled and 
unskilled workers.  The report cited external as well as 
internal factors as the cause. The World Bank recommended 
increasing the quality of secondary education; a wiser, more 
targeted use of Costa Rica's limited fiscal resources; and 
more open trade policies.  Two Costa Rican cabinet ministers 
echoed these recommendations.  Costa Rican officials appear 
fully aware of the negative consequences this widening income 
gap could bring, but it remains to be seen if the current 
government can deliver the needed changes.  End Summary. 
 
---------------------- 
INCOME GAP IS WIDENING 
---------------------- 
 
2.  On August 31, a World Bank delegation, headed by Director 
for Central America Jane Armitage, presented a report about 
Costa Rican poverty titled "Recovering the Momentum in the 
Fight Against Poverty" to representatives from the GOCR, 
various non-governmental organizations, and members of the 
local diplomatic community.  Highlighting the list of 
speakers at the conference were Finance Minister Guillermo 
Zuniga and Housing Minister Fernando Zumbado. 
 
3. The report notes that although Costa Rica stands out 
amongst its Central America peers in almost every 
socioeconomic indicator, Costa Rica,s fight against poverty 
stalled after 1994. From 1989 to 1994 Costa Rican poverty 
rates dropped from 32% to 23%.  However, during the following 
ten years, despite modest economic growth that averaged 2.4% 
of GDP per year, Costa Rican poverty began inching up to the 
current level of 24%. As the fight against poverty stalled, 
increased income inequality developed between educated, 
skilled professionals and unskilled laborers. 
 
------------------------------ 
WHY IS COSTA RICA BACKSLIDING? 
------------------------------ 
 
4. According to the World Bank report, changes in the world 
economy as well as conditions within Costa Rica explain much 
of what ails the Costa Rican poor.  Externally, the world 
economy is demanding fewer unskilled workers from 
middle-income countries such as Costa Rica.  At the same 
time, Costa Rica has been producing increasing numbers of 
these workers.  The World Bank faults deficiencies in the 
Costa Rican educational system, especially at the secondary 
level, for much of the increase in unskilled workers.  These 
deficiencies are both in the funding of the school system and 
the quality of education offered.  Costa Rican spending on 
education is more highly skewed toward primary education than 
secondary education, in comparison with its neighbors. 
Compared to other Latin American countries that spend a 
similar percentage of GDP on education, about 5%, Costa Rica 
only graduates about 53% of its youths from high school as 
opposed to 64% in the other countries.  A recent report by 
the Costa Rican Ministry of Education indicated that even 
with a high school diploma, a Costa Rican worker could expect 
to earn less than half the salary of a college-educated 
professional. 
 
-------------------------- 
WORLD BANK RECOMMENDATIONS 
-------------------------- 
 
5. The report made several recommendations.  Obviously, 
increasing the quality of secondary education was considered 
crucial.  Also, the government should provide job skills 
training for older workers.  The government should strive to 
lower the number of people who fall through the social safety 
net Costa Rica tries to provide to its poorest citizens. 
Recognizing the fiscal bind Costa Rica is in, the report 
suggests streamlining the social service system, making it 
more efficient by avoiding duplication of service. 
 
6. The World Bank report also suggests greater investment in 
infrastructure, strengthening the financial sector, and 
opening of markets (without specifically mentioning CAFTA) as 
ways to fight poverty.  However, during a related interview, 
a World Bank representative did stress the necessity of CAFTA 
for Costa Rica's poor as well as fiscal reform to fund 
poverty eradication projects. 
 
7. The Costa Rican cabinet ministers both called for fiscal 
reform to help fund poverty-eradicating projects.  Housing 
Minister Zumbado called for a return to the commitment to 
economic equality Costa Rica once possessed, listing several 
social programs that he believed served the Costa Rican poor 
in times past. 
 
8. COMMENT:  Costa Rica has always taken pride in its 
relative economic equality in comparison to its regional and 
hemispheric neighbors.  However, the benefits of this more 
egalitarian society are starting to erode.  Costa Ricans in 
general are uneasy about this growing income disparity and 
how it could deteriorate security and general livability. 
Costa Rican contacts in recent weeks have also acknowledged 
to us the weaknesses in the educational system, an historic 
strength and source of Tico pride.  Recognizing these 
problems is only the first step, however.  The Arias 
government will need to take action if Costa Rica is to help 
the increasing number of poor being left behind.  END COMMENT. 
 
LANGDALE