Dependence on Foreign nvestment
In an increasing fashion, the economic stability of Costa Rica depends on direct foreign investment.

Every year, the funds from that source cover a larger chunk of the current account deficit, which is the difference between the amount the country pays for imported goods and the income from sales and services abroad.

In 2006, the amount paid for imports was us$1 billion higher than the one of the goods and services sold abroad.

The difference was equal to 5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, the second highest in Latin America and the Caribbean. Without the dollars from direct foreign investment, there would have been pressure to further devaluate the colon, analysts say.