Three main features characterize socio-political events in Costa Rica during 2010 and 2011. First, in the political system, internal divisions within the incumbent party and across other parties in Congress, the constant reshuffles in the cabinet under divided government have challenged the new government. Second, the economic situation is improving after the most recent crisis, despite weaknesses remains. Finally, in the social realm there is a paradox, on one hand, the traditional human development indicators (life expectancy, education and social security) have improved over time whereas on the other, there have
been an increasing trend in social inequality, and crime as well as a worsening in the public capacities to build required infrastructure.