Shadow Economy in Costa Rica

18 views
Skip to first unread message

Sam Wilson

unread,
Oct 30, 2022, 1:37:48 AM10/30/22
to Living in Costa Rica
LiCR,

The other evening an old man and I were sitting on my front porch with a rum bottle musing about how the shadow economy in Costa Rica is probably growing.  I suppose one might expect that.  A lot of people are out of work and they've got to eat.  Regular economy goes south and shadow economy grows.  According to this article over at Market Business News (MBN), it appears that Costa Rica has a shadow economy estimated to be 20-30% of GDP.  There is a direct relationship between the size of the shadow economy and levels of corruption.


It could be true. We regularly have 1 or 2 irregular fruitstands set up shop right across the street from the super every day.  Out behind our place is an irregular neighborhood -- 11 houses have been built out there without the benefit (?) of muni oversight or permission.  I'm about to make that 12.  I don't really count 'em, but we must have 15+ distinct street vendors come by our gate every week.  Every construction project I've been involved with had irregular workers paid in cash.

This discussion came about because I was telling him a story about someone I know, who does NOT resemble me, who finally had success getting an electric meter installed for their farm out back.  Which was strange because ICE had told him that they could not do it without an engineer's plan and the engineer's plan could not be had because the muni wouldn't sign off on it despite years of promising to do so.  The shadow economy came to the rescue in spades.  ¢100 mil to the right ICE office worker (split between the hustler and the engineer who signed off on invisible non-existent plans) and permissions for a meter were granted.  Another ¢50 mil to an ICE crew member who installs light poles during his day job and a pole and meter pan was prepared for regular ICE crew hookup.  Smooth as silk without any of the previous hassles rained down upon this poor individual, who does NOT resemble me, by ICE and the muni and even the freakin' water dept.  Smooth as silk -- just a function of money.  Win-Win for the guy who finally got his meter and for the ICE employees who were able to drum up a little business on the side to help put food on their tables. Lose-Lose  for the muni and the rule of law which was trumped by the shadow economy figuring out how to get things done despite all the obstacles.

I think that guy, who does NOT resemble me, will be taking a selfie with his new electric meter real soon now.

Blue Öyster Cult - Veteran of the Psychic Wars

BTW, does anyone know where one might find some UF (Underground Feeder) electric cable for direct burial?  Preferably in the 0/2 size and about 25m?

--
Sam  

Don Hickman

unread,
Oct 30, 2022, 8:53:25 AM10/30/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
What a great story, Sam!  My best to that guy who does NOT resemble you!!

Don

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Living in Costa Rica" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to costa-rica-liv...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/CAMrVHURFXs3w-CW07RF%3DVLQXDf5LqDzOw4kA%2BhZhm5d1%3D1N5UA%40mail.gmail.com.

gene

unread,
Oct 30, 2022, 9:36:12 AM10/30/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
puzzles...i love puzzles...

 does NOT resemble sam...

hmmmmmm...

who can it be???




Sent from my Galaxy
--

Sam Wilson

unread,
Oct 30, 2022, 2:35:05 PM10/30/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Why, Gene...  You know I don't condone violence.  So it's better that you keep your trap shut!  jajaja.

Maybe that previously mentioned said farm with electricity now could qualify for net metering as soon as the crazy rules regarding that are pitched or ignored?  Even if they only credit half, still that is something that helps in the offset column.  In the meantime, the price of batteries is coming down.  Or was.  I haven't paid much attention to what supply chain bottlenecks and COVID lockdowns in Wuhan might be doing to prices.

Let's just call my little parable about shadow economics a good example of how regular folks deal with things when too many problems get in the way of getting things done.

Don't forget that if you are paying regular chorizo, in the month of December you've got to cough up a 13th month.  It is proportional, so if you only pay chorizo every other month, then in December, it should only be 1/2 extra.  ;-)

--
Sam

gene

unread,
Oct 30, 2022, 6:04:42 PM10/30/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com



"So it's better that you keep your trap shut!  jajaja"


something that has cost me plenty over the years....

i know i have the right to remain silent...
i evidently dont have the ability...

lol

Don Hickman

unread,
Oct 30, 2022, 6:28:02 PM10/30/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com

I used to tell clients not to talk to the police, not ever, never, under any circumstance unless they were lost, needed directions and didn't mind that the police knew they were there at the moment.  One day 2 officers knocked on the door of a former client.  He went to the door, opened it and one officer said, "We'd like to talk to you."  My former client replied, "I'm not lost," and slammed the door.  One cop said to the other, "Damn that Hickman!"

Don

gene

unread,
Oct 30, 2022, 7:10:53 PM10/30/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
my brother constantly reminds his clients...the police are not your friend...
Screenshot_20220520-191601_Gallery.jpg

Sam Wilson

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 1:11:29 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Gene & Don,

Must be something about lawyers... When I was in high-school, my best bud's girlfriend's dad was a lawyer (we always cruised around partying in her red Cadillac) and as I recall, his mantra was, "tell them your name and nothing more."  My theory is that the transition from "when in trouble, find a cop" to "quick hide! there's a cop" to "defund the police!" all started with speed traps.  With the advent of speed traps, little boys grew up watching their dads slam on the brakes and try to hide the fact that they were speeding from the cops.  No longer were cops the ones to seek when in trouble, they became the ones to hide from to avoid trouble.  Something in that transition went wrong.  Maybe it had been wrong for a long time.  Too bad we apparently don't get a chance to relive life over and over again to get all this figured out better than we do with only one pass for experience that we can't take advantage of on a do-over life!  jejeje.

--
Sam

Don Hickman

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 1:16:00 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com

There is something about lawyers!  We are smart, crafty, clever and we make the laws!!  And then we interpret the laws!!!

Lol.

Don

Joe Harrison

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 2:08:36 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
To amend Don's post slightly:  Lawyers participate in making the laws, but don't really control that process.  According to the ABA, in the current Congress (the 117th), of the 535 seats in the 2 Houses, only 175 are occupied by attorneys, which would be only about 30 percent.   

We'll soon have a new Congress, hard to tell how that might change.  But if folks like the esteemed Herschel Walker join the Senate, it's hard to see that percentage increasing.

US Presidents also are part of the lawmaking process since they both propose and sign (or veto) legislation.  Of the 46 Presidents in our history 18 (most recently Trump) have not been lawyers.  joe


To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/dab050d3-581f-4c69-03c4-06646833eb7e%40gmail.com.

Don Hickman

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 2:10:06 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com

While your stats are accurate, Joe, those non-lawyers in the Congress have staff attorneys who actually write the laws the vote on.

Don

gene

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 2:11:40 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com

that sure explains the current situations...

gene

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 2:16:39 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
maybe shakespeare was on to something!!!

lolololol...

Joe Harrison

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 2:21:56 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Don,  for sure.  And then there are scads of committees, all of which are well-staffed with attorneys.  Nothing gets through both Houses without tons of vetting.  And in most cases it's also coordinated with the relevant agency in the Executive Branch, and also most often various interest groups (trade associations, labor unions, etc) get into the act.  More lawyers.  Lawyers, lawyers everywhere. So many they'd even toss Herschel Walker for a 50 yard loss.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/E1opZFw-00GfPE-4x%40server235.web-hosting.com.

Don Hickman

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 2:22:53 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com

Lol, Joe.  You are right.

Don

Don Hickman

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 2:23:37 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com

Gene, if you succeeded in that, you would just have to invent them all over again.  Lol.

Don

gene

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 2:28:36 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
lololol...

you are probably right ....

lololol

Sam Wilson

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 5:47:09 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Joe,

So are you saying its okay ot vote for Joe fetterman?  Because surely it doesn';t matte rsince the staff is really doihng the heavy lifting.... Sorry, prease lelcuse the tyowes... too much rum for lunck1! jajajsdjs

I gues that erxplains AOPC as well!  ;-)

---Sam

Joe Harrison

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 6:51:44 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Hi Sam:  Let's start with a couple of obvious facts:
1)  Must have been one hell of a fine lunch!!!  Any food involved?
2)  The candidate's name is John (not Joe) Fetterman.
3)  It would be OK to vote for him if, and only if, you are registered to vote in Pennsylvania.  Or for his opponent, Mehmet Oz.
4) No alcohol is allowed in  the polling places.

There are many Senators not skilled in legal matters.  Some you may like, some not  Some examples:  Feinstein, Manchin, Cantwell, Murray, Tester, Grassley, Cassidy, Ernst, Duckworth, Rand Paul, Warnock, Wicker, Thune, Rounds, Sasse, Crapo, Tillis, Sanders, Collins, Tuberville, and some others.   And then there is Senator Boozman (not to be confused with your lunch menu), R-Arkansas.  He attended UArk for a time, but never got a degree.   Yep, every last one of them has a large staff in Washington (and more back in their home state offices).  I don't know the staff sizes now, but when I was on the Hill, like about 25 years ago, the DC staff could number up to about 30 for a large state like California.  Plenty of room for a slew of lawyers there.   And each Senator serves on several committees, all of which have large staffs, replete with lawyers.  A Senator (or House Member) truly doesn't have to know squat.  And many of them don't.  The heavy lifting indeed is performed by staff, I submit humbly, having served various Members and on Committee staffs.



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/CAMrVHUTcwzQj50iCf86ay7z3p1ak9_2E7D9QHfrd%3DZUz0mei%2BQ%40mail.gmail.com.

Keith Flannigan

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 7:27:51 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
While in most cases I concur with Don about not taking to the police I will tell you another side of it. If you start off telling the cop that he needs to see your attorney you are doing two things. First you are missing the opportunity to tell them why you did what you did. If you shot someone and you refuse to tell the police that you shot him because he was attacking you they will assume that you are the one that needs to go to jail. 

Second it will pass him off and he will look for reasons to take you to jail. 

You can politely tell him officer I was walking down the street minding my own business and this man ran across the road at me with a crowbar and I am 70 and ill and had not able to run or fight the huge young man and had to defend myself with my legally carried and owned pistol. I want to be cooperative and here is my license and the address is correct.  My cell number is ****. As I stated I want to be helpful but my friend Don who is a very good attorney advised me not to make any statements until he arrives to assist me as I am very stressed out from the attack on me. 



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/63c24979-8920-cb75-e359-f93dc0b2c839%40gmail.com.

Sam Wilson

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 7:32:21 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Hi Joe,

JKajajaja!

>  A Senator (or House Member) truly doesn't have to know squat.

Turns out so obviously true for president as well!  jajaja.

Look... I';ve been a tehc guy for more trhan 50 years now.  Sinc e way beifre theire were PC's or Macs./  Whebn I started folks with respect actuall fluipped switches to sxee bits go on or off.  I'm all for prograess, I domn't [prettemd tp lmpwq everu tjomg abpit tevertujogml. bit O dp lmpw jpw pt searcijf pvfr [ertomemt ompf//  Dpr it is not suproixe to me that pro polis also need ot have extendted esxpertice at thteir dispalsoal.  That saidk, sure, why hot?

--
Sam  - sorry, it is true, that sa soon as I start driogking rum I turn opff my spwerll chekier.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/CAMAkr%3DK%3DWR6JybbKUgocq%2BRaM_JSAFhUFZuRkNawFHkTaKN63A%40mail.gmail.com.

Joe Harrison

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 7:41:56 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Sam I doubt SpellCheck could handle the quantity of errors in that message.  Instead, it would ask you what f'ing language are you using?  And I must do likewise!  Are you still at lunch?

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/CAMrVHUSD1ApygvJKkPDbAom7edFVeSOgnW%2BHgRM7Jph7%2B-qWLg%40mail.gmail.com.

Don Hickman

unread,
Oct 31, 2022, 7:44:51 PM10/31/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Lol.  Very good, Keith.  But note that my advice was to my clients, none of whom would ever be in that innocent situation.  

Don

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/CADWave3wqL2uPTdhFgzErv4U_CR3LT1%3D-BUSLezq9SWKR7WCAQ%40mail.gmail.com.

Sam Wilson

unread,
Nov 1, 2022, 8:49:49 AM11/1/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
Hi Joe,

I was just illustrating how easy it is to use a simple cypher by simply shifting one's hand placement on the keyboard while typing.  jejeje. No need for supercomputers or Enigma-like cleverness to hide what one is saying.  Frankly,it is a disservice for the disabled that spell-checkers can't pick up on that simple trick!  AI has a long, long way to go...

Lunch rolled right into dinner-time!  More economical that way.  Eat once and just make it last.  jajaja

--
Sam

Don Hickman

unread,
Nov 1, 2022, 8:51:57 AM11/1/22
to costa-ri...@googlegroups.com
I figured that's what you had done but what surprised me was that I could read it.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/costa-rica-living/CAMrVHUQwKgG_A4R9Mayo599BFb4uASOsMyvNzhi92DFCmYT4XQ%40mail.gmail.com.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages