Is Costa Rica's Democracy Failing?

Abstract: Costa Rica is arguably the longest continuously existing democracy in Latin America (though it only dates to 1949). In the last two decades, though, there has been a weakening of the country's democracy. The country's problems stem not from economic woes, but from corruption scandals that undermined the two traditional parties that had long provided stability. There has been a rise in multipartism, and incentives for political actors have changed, leading to less cooperation and impairing executive and legislative decision-making. The resulting lack of government efficacy threatens the country's social contract, based on the provision of social services in exchange for regime allegiance.