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[quote=”Imxploring”]“Violent variations in the exchange rate leads to sharp movements in prices, costs, and income, increasing the degree of uncertainty about these and other variables, which is detrimental to the wellbeing of Costa Rican society.”
Seems they believe a rising dollar will have an impact on prices (inflation). In many cases prices are “sticky”… that being when they rise because of some short term localized event they tend to be quite slow to retreat… if they do so at all!
What makes CR unique and perhaps more vulnerable to this problem is the parallel use in daily (right down to that local mom and pop soda) commerce of their own currency as well as the dollar.[/quote]
Referring to the link I provided earlier
[url=http://insidecostarica.com/2013/10/08/central-bank-raises-exchange-rate-ceiling-dollars-%C2%A2800/]Central bank raises exchange rate ceiling for dollars to ¢800[/url]
“Those holding or earning dollars, however, shouldn’t get excited. Experts said the move is simply to reassure certain sectors in the economy, such as exporters, and wouldn’t affect the actual exchange rate.
The dollar has remained near the bottom band of ¢500 all year.
Experts said that the consensus is that the colon should always gradually weaken against stronger currencies such as the dollar. As a result, experts said, there shouldn’t be the need for an upper band at all.
Exporters and other sectors become more profitable – and their goods more attractive on world markets – when the dollar’s purchasing power relative to the colon increases, effectively making their products cheaper in export markets.
Experts said that the Central Bank’s movement of the upper band is simply to reassure such sectors that there is plenty of room for long-term – and gradual – devaluation of the colon.”[quote=”Imxploring”]Les…. I think you’re mistaken if you don’t believe that prices in CR (priced in local currency) will not be adjusted upwards (inflated) to make up for the rise in the dollar (exchange rate).[/quote]
While the exchange rate dropped from 596 to 493 we experienced inflation of 5% to 7%. Tico workers income rose at about 1% to 2% at the same time yet they experienced the same rate of inflation as expats did.
Why do you assume that prices rise simply to gouge expats when the Ticos get hit just as hard or harder. The Tico family that lives with us pays the same prices that I do.
Inflation is worldwide and has been a fact of life for generations. When you can tell me that Costa Rica is the only country that is experiencing inflation we can argue the point.
The Costa Rican exchange rate has absolutely nothing to do with the rate of inflation.
The Banco Central de Costa Rica sets a floor and a ceiling on the rates of exchange. As noted in the article below, last October the Central Bank raised the ceiling to 800.5 colons to the dollar but the floor remains at 500.
[url=http://insidecostarica.com/2013/10/08/central-bank-raises-exchange-rate-ceiling-dollars-%C2%A2800/]New exchange rate ceiling[/url]I am amazed that the exchange rate has risen as rapidly as it has but the chances that it will get above 600 is just about zero. This morning we got 549.3 to the dollar..
[quote=”aguirrewar”]you and I are for a RUDE awakening.
550 colones for 1 dollar is not far away.
you (USA) citizens might think that you are riding in the GRAVY train but wait until that inflation teeth chomps into your wallet.
care to read your opinion??[/quote]
We’ve been there before.
During 2009 the dollar was as high as 596 colones.I don’t know where you think you can live that isn’t getting hit with inflation
[quote=”sweikert925″] I was more concerned at how responsive they are if you’re living halfway up a mountain somewhere. While your math is correct about the cop to resident ratio, I am a little more concerned about the cop per square mile ratio.
One thing that I consider in CR cops’ favor over our Chicago cops is that they actually walk around instead of sitting on their brains in land cruisers all day.[/quote]
I live in the Colon area. Actually about 1 1/2 miles south of the town proper in Barrio San Bosco.
The Colon cops cover this far out and have contacted us about a couple of disputes in our out of the way location.
Yes they do walk around in town but they are also equipped with a number of vehicles that allow them to attend to a much wider area.[quote=”jtou”]Can someone please give me the current residential and commercial rates for both energy used and the demand charge? Thank you.[/quote]
Apparently ICE does not provide any document explaining the rates for either residential or commercial usage.
I can tell you that we are paying $.16 per KWH for 889 KW per month for our residence. I do know that the more you use the higher the rate and our usage is quite high.
Can anyone add with the prices that they are paying?
[quote=”sweikert925″] What struck me about it is this:
[i]The uniformed police, Fuerza Publica, has between 12,000 and 15,000 officers working in the entire country.[/i]
[/quote]If the figures are accurate there is a fuerza Publica officer for every 392 residents in Costa Rica.
They are responsible only for keeping the peace (crime & disputes).They are not responsible for traffic enforcement or any other enforcement duties.In our area, Ciudad Colon, they are quite visible and effective.
CRBill
Try the farmacias under the name permetrina.[b]Never use these products on or around cats: Permethrin is toxic to cats[/b]
We can’t use permethrins since we have both dogs and cats who interact and play with each other.
We have been using [b]Frontline[/b] topical for both the cats and dogs. It has proven very effective for about 6 to 8 weeks. We buy it at the local agrocenter in Colon.
[quote=”sweikert925″]Thanks for that link, waggoner41. That very neatly explains where Costa Rica’s power situation is and where it may be headed.
I hope the next president and legislature elected next month see sense and opens up the power market a bit to other players besides ICE.[/quote]
Private power companies are going to be the solution. ICE has neither the cash, the ambition or the backbone to stand up to labor.
[quote=”Imxploring”][quote=”waggoner41″][quote=”costaricafinca”]There are 52 across the road from where we used to live…with more planned.[/quote]
The question I have is who is building them. Is it ICE or is it some private company?[/quote]
Many of the wind farms in the Tilaran mountains up my way around Lake Arenal are private companies on some type of contract or concession agreement. I have to say it looks rather futuristic going out on the deck in the morning with a cup of coffee looking at windmills lining the mountain ridge across the lake! I don’t think it ruins the view at all… it a wonderful mix of nature and the future…. one that doesn’t poison or destroy the environment![/quote]
In answer to my question I came across this article a couple of days ago. It explains a lot.
[url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2012/09/07/a-renewable-power-generation-primer]A renewable power generation primer[/url][quote=”Imxploring”] Glad she’s doing well Les… but unfortunately many cancers are among the leading causes of death worldwide and are also the illnesses who’s treatment result in the highest medical costs. Having lost family to cancer I can confirm both those facts.[/quote]
She is doing well and has been cancer free for two years now.
Talk about expenses…she gets a cancer checkup every four months and is allowed to see her cancer doctor without appointments. All she has to do is appear at his office and he invites her in. It is an unusual situation but much appreciated.Her family has the worst gene pool imaginable but CAJA has been generous in treating fibromyalgis, diabetes, heart attacks, skin conditions, gout and I am sure I have not remembered all she gets treatment for.
If we were getting our medical care in the States we would have been bankrupt some time ago. When you get this kind of care you have to have a great appreciation for it. I certainly do.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]There are 52 across the road from where we used to live…with more planned.[/quote]
The question I have is who is building them. Is it ICE or is it some private company?
[quote=”Imxploring”] Yet another reason the rates CAJA are charging expats are a bit out of line. As in your example above… if faced with a life threatening (and subsequently expensive cost to the insurer) illness many folks will either go private or go back to their home country for treatment thus relieving CAJA of the major expenses.[/quote]
What constitutes a “life threatening illness”?
My wife has been treated for cancer twice. The first time was immediately after joining CAJA and the second 3 years later.
Cancer doesn’t appear to be on the list of “life threatening illnesses”.[quote=”sweikert925″]
Health Coverage S.E.M
(Monthly income) (Assessment)
$896 to $1,773 6.25%
$1,774 to $2,660 7.25%
$2,661 to $3,546 8.25%
$3,547 to $4,433 9.5%
$4,433 and up 11.0%The final approval of your social security insurance application must be done at any of the regional offices of the CCSS. The approval generally requires a personal interview with a social security administration officer who will evaluate your information, income, age and then set the percentage that you must pay according to the sliding scale indicated above.
Each applicant will have a different set of circumstances as such the determinations are evaluated on a case by case basis by the Social Security administration.[/i]
As the statement immediately above implies, these are apparently just guidelines and individual assessments seem to be up to the local social security administration office, so take this for what it’s worth.[/quote]
Since I am paying substantially below these figures I think I will pass on seeing the administration for adjustment.
[quote=”sweikert925″]I’ve only seen a few wind turbines in my trips to CR so far but looks like I may see a lot more if I follow through on my plan to concentrate on the north next time. I think the ones I saw must have been the ones located in Los Santos according to the map I linked to above since it was on the way to Cartago.
With all that volcanic activity I wonder how much effort may be put into tapping geothermal energy for more of its energy needs?[/quote]
As you drive the San Jose-Caldera pista as you pass the turn-off to Ciudad Colon, look to the left and you will see the beginnings of a wind farm.
So far they have installed about 20 wind towers and I believe they are not finished yet.
On Google earth at 9? 54’47.33” N x 84? 12’32.58” W you can find some photos of the towers. Since I moved her in 2007 wind electricity production has doubled from 74 MW to 143 MW.
