Publication: Costa Rica : Social Spending and the Poor, Volume 2. Social Sector Performance in the 90's - Facing the Challenges
Date
2002-10-31
ISSN
Published
2002-10-31
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
The report reviews the substantial
progress Costa Rica made over the past decade in reducing
poverty and improving social indicators. However, while
economic growth certainly reduced poverty rates, the
country's recent experience shows that relying on
economic growth and increased public spending alone will not
necessarily yield sufficient reductions in poverty.
Moreover, the rising concern that fiscal pressure will limit
possibilities of increasing social spending suggests further
efficiency in the sector. Even though coverage of education
and health remains almost universal in basic education, and
so is access to healthcare services, worrying signs in
social sector indicators suggest a decline in the efficiency
of social spending. The report addresses three key issues,
namely, a) Who are the poor and vulnerable groups in Costa
Rica? b) What has been the impact of social spending on
programs that aim to improve the welfare of the poor? and c)
Which are the improvements required, and how can government
spending be used more effectively to reach the poor and
reduce poverty? In response to these questions, the report
presents an in-depth, multi-dimensional analysis of poverty,
examines the effectiveness of government policies, and
social sector spending on the poor, and, uses the empirical
findings to identify options and priorities for improving
social sector spending and reducing poverty in the future.
Recommendations emphasize improving the institutional
framework, coordinating the implementation of social
programs, as well as increasing flexibility in programs so
as to be more responsive to the needs of the poor.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2002. Costa Rica : Social Spending and the Poor, Volume 2. Social Sector Performance in the 90's - Facing the Challenges. Public expenditure review (PER);. © Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15329 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”