Businesses support LGBT+ inclusion and civil marriage for same-sex couples in Costa Rica
Published 2020
Costa Rica’s Economic Opportunity
Inclusive, long-term economic development is a priority for societies around the world, and Costa Rica is no exception. Costa Rica is largely an economic development success story - it is a leader in social and economic development in the region.
But there are still several economic issues affecting the country, particularly inequality and productivity growth.
Costa Rica has the highest level of inequality of any country in the OECD, with a Gini coefficient of close to 0.5 (compared to an OECD average of ~0.3). In addition, Costa Rica still faces low levels of productivity. Although productivity has grown in past years, it is still only 36% of the OECD average. The OECD refers to this combination as "the twin challenges of boosting productivity growth and inclusion."
As this paper will show, LGBT+ inclusion, which is improved by allowing civil marriage for same-sex couples, is a key ingredient to create long-term, inclusive economic growth in Costa Rica. The evidence presented below will show that LGBT + inclusive societies are better able to attract high value industries, boost national reputation and tourism, attract talent and create an environment for businesses to thrive.
