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AMC would like to invite all of our contracted agents to participate in the 2006 AMC Production Contest. We wanted to come up with a way to thank our agents for placing their business with AMC, sending them to Costa Rica sounded like a good way to do that.
We have put together a contest based on premium growth, so it doesn't matter if you start with $1 million or $0, everyone has a chance to win a prize. As you can see prizes range from gift certificates that can be used for anything you wish to four all-inclusive trips to Costa Rica that can be used to bring anyone you wish.
We hope to give away as many tickets to Costa Rica as we can because we want 2006 to be the best year in the history of AMC.
Read Spotlight on Costa Rica Article
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| Introduction |
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| Background: |
Costa Rica is a Central American success story. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. |
| Geography |
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| Location: |
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama |
| Geographic coordinates: |
10 00 N, 84 00 W |
| Area: |
Total: 51,100 sq km / 31,759 sq mi
Land: 50,660 sq km / 31,485 sq mi
Water: 440 sq km / 273 sq mi
note: includes Isla del Coco |
| Area - comparative: |
Slightly smaller than West Virginia |
| Land boundaries: |
Total: 639 km / 397 mi
Border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km |
| Coastline: |
1,290 km / 801 mi |
| Climate: |
Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands |
| Terrain: |
Coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes |
| Elevation extremes: |
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m |
| Land use: |
Arable land: 4.41%
Permanent crops: 5.88%
Other: 89.71% (2001) |
| People |
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| Population: |
4,016,173 (July 2005 est.) |
| Age Structure: |
0-14 years: 28.9% (male 593,540/female 566,361)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,330,481/female 1,300,664)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 104,564/female 120,563) (2005 est.) |
| Median Age: |
Total: 26.03 years
Male: 25.59 years
Female: 26.5 years (2005 est.) |
| Population Growth Rate: |
1.48% (2005 est.) |
| Birth Rate: |
18.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2% |
| Languages: |
Spanish (official), English |
| Government |
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| Country Name: |
Conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
Conventional short form: Costa Rica
Local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
Local short form: Costa Rica |
| Government Type: |
Democratic republic |
| Capitol: |
San Jose |
| AdministrativeDivisions: |
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose |
| Indepenence: |
15 September 1821 (from Spain) |
| National Holiday: |
Independence Day, 15 September (1821) |
| Constitution: |
7 November 1949 |
| Legal System: |
Based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Sufferage: |
18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Flag Description: |
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA |
| Economy |
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| Economy-Overview: |
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. Low prices for coffee and bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and its pattern of public expenditure. Costa Rica is the only signatory to the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that has not ratified it. CAFTA implementation would result in economic reforms and an improved investment climate |
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