Economy

1. Computer chips 2. Bananas 3. Pine apples 4. Coffi e Economic growth slipped from 4.3% in 1994 to 2.5% in 1995 and to 0.9% in 1996 and then rebounded in 1997 to 3%. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995 from 13.5% in 1994 receded to 17.5% in 1996 then dropped to 11.2% in 1997. Unemployment appears moderate at 5.7% but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore substantial government deficits have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. The government thus faces a formidable set of problems: to curb inflation reduce the deficit encourage domestic savings and improve public sector efficiency while increasing the role of the private sector all this in harmony with IMF agreements. One important positive development—the infusion of more than $200 million in 1995 by microchip giant Intel and the anticipated attraction of other high-tech firms to Costa Rica will help stimulate growth and employment over the next several years
 * 1) 1 exports