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I read Scott’s recent newsletter that talked about Amway opening up their new financial operations center in Santa Ana. I also subscribe to the CINDE newsletters and hear about other multi-nationals that are opening new or expanding existing operations in Costa Rica. According to Scott’s piece, CINDE reports that 28,000 people are employed by multi-national service companies.
Question – does anyone know of a credible source for the total number of people hired by expats operating small businesses in Costa Rica? My guess is that this number would dwarf that being hired by multi-nationals.
Many of you may not care however as a small business operator I would like to see some press and some acknowledgement by the Costa Rican government of the economic contribution made by expat-operated small businesses.
The vast majority of expats living in Costa Rica do not operate small businesses though do they? They are retired.
I would suggest that the number of people employed by expats operating small businesses in Costa Rica is probably a fraction of the 28,000 employed by the multinationals…
Looking at the big picture, it seems to me that us expats believe we are far more important and indispensable than we actually are…
As a small business owner myself, the only acknowledgement I need is that at the end of the month, I’ve made more money than I’ve spent or invested…
I don’t want or need acknowledgement from any parasitic civil servant.
Scott
[quote=”Scott”]Looking at the big picture, it seems to me that us expats believe we are far more important and indispensable than we actually are…
Scott[/quote]Scott, you and I are in agreement on so many things. I have come to the same conclusion that many North American expats have an exaggerated opinion of our value to the Costa Rican economy. An attitude adjustment is required in order to live in any new environment. So much of what I see as the necessary attitude adjustment has to do with managing this inflated view of the value of the North American culture as it relates to the culture in Costa Rica.
We all want to feel good about ourselves but we must also be realistic about self worth and not falsely inflate it at the expense of misunderstanding who we are and with whom we live.
I,too, agree.
On one website, they asked businesses from that country to link the their companies and very few responded. From the folks I know that operate businesses here, the #1 business is B&B’S.
And most are [i]not busy[/i]….Scott. I love the line “Parasitic Civil Servant”. This is exactly what the US Congress is made up of, especially the leaders of the House and Senate!!
I beg to differ with you, my friend. A civil servant, whether parasitic or not, is most definitely NOT an elected official, but an employee of any civic (town, city, county, state, or federal) agency. The elected officials are not servants, nor are they often found to be civil. Maybe parasites, but more like leeches, or snakes, or something else entirely.
Sprite,
We must also not forget where we live and our place here when we cooperate with the government. Ticos have disdain for thier government. I know a cabinent maker who moved out of his shop rather than pay taxes. After a month or so he moved back in. I asked him why and he said, what do I want to give my money to the politicians for, so they can put it in their pocket. To this day I can’t understand why Gringos come here and do not see the beauty of the people and their understanding of freedom. Freedom from the government, freedom from the US marketing machine and freedom from the US press. However, Arias has moved this country backwards in his attemps to grow government. Ask your fellow Ticos if they pay income tax? If your experience is like mine, they don’t even now where to start or how to do it. Now that’s freedom. Why Gringos come here to be good little followers like they were in the US is beyond me. Lack of spine I guess. Between the government and the american women most american men have been nuetered. To be a patriot you need cajones. Now we have Laura. ahggg… Here comes a bigger CR government. Isn’t that what you all want? better roads, cheaper televisions, more taxes? Well do you? I don’t.
Diego – Huh? This is a thread about small business in CR, and you had to high jack it into a political diatribe? Why do you conclude that not paying taxes is a good thing? Don’t you think that having a decent infrastructure might be worthwhile? Or, maybe police and a justice system that would slow down the incidence of crime?
I think your idea of freedom is a bit skewed, my friend. Freedom does not mean that you are free to enjoy the benefits of MY tax dollars/colones, while not contributing in any way yourself. If you want freedom from government, then that would suggest you to be an anarchist. Is that what you are advocating?
Freedom [i]from[/i] the U. S. press? What in the world does that mean? Do you not realize that one of the freedoms enjoyed in a place like the U. S. is the freedom to choose what to read, or not to read??!!
Freedom from the U. S. marketing machine? That ‘machine’ has as every right to bombard us with their messages, just as we have the right to ignore those messages!
I’m sorry, but I am always suspicious of anyone whose idea of freedom is to not pay taxes, or in some other way, carry one’s own weight.
John Dungan, you have a very limited understanding of macroeconomics. The formula is a simple one . . .
Everyone wants more and better government services (whether they will admit they do or not).
Some folks are unwilling to pay their fair share.
In their ideal world, their taxes would be inadequate to support the services they demand.
And so a miracle happens . . .
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