Editing Politics of Costa Rica (section)

== Strength of institutions ==
Institutional strength is a critical factor in politics since it defines the ability of political institutions to enforce rules, settle conflicts, and sustain stability in society. Weak institutions can lead to instability, violence, and authoritarianism, while solid institutions are associated with more durable and sufficient democracies.<ref name=ANRVS>{{cite journal|last= Levitsky |first= Steven |title=Variation in Institutional Strength|date=August 2009|journal=Annual Review of Political Science |location=Annu. Rev. Polit. Sci.|volume= 12 |pages= 115–133 |doi= 10.1146/annurev.polisci.11.091106.121756 |editor=María Victoria Murillo|doi-access=free }}</ref> This is especially applicable in countries with fragile institutional frameworks, where strengthening institutions is essential for advancing democracy and stability.<ref name=ANRVS/> Elements such as economic development, a record of state-building, and external actors can contribute to institutional strength; understanding these factors is essential for enabling effective governance. Therefore, lawmakers and scholars must pay close watch to institutional strength when analyzing and formulating political strategies to advance stable and effective democracies that serve the interests of their citizens.<ref name=ANRVS/>

=== Rule of law ===
The rule of law refers to the idea that all individuals and institutions, including the state, are subject to the same rules and limitations. In Costa Rica, the rule of law is generally considered robust, with a separate judiciary branch, effective law enforcement, and low indices of corruption.<ref name=FH>{{cite web|title=Freedom House Report on Costa Rica|date=2021|publisher=Freedom House|url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/costa-rica/freedom-world/2021}}</ref> However, there are also concerns about the efficiency of the justice system and the slow pace of legal proceedings, which can sometimes hinder the effective enforcement of the law.<ref name=WB>{{cite web|title=World Bank Report on Costa Rica|date=2022|publisher=World Bank|url=https://data.worldbank.org/country/costa-rica}}</ref>

=== Democratic institutions ===
Costa Rica is famous for its stable and well-functioning democracy, with periodic, accessible, and honest elections, a competitive party system, and a robust civil society.<ref name=IPU>{{cite web|title=Global Data on National Parliaments Report on Costa Rica|date=2022|publisher=Inter-Parliamentary Union|url=https://data.ipu.org/node/40/parliamentary-bodies?chamber_id=13541}}</ref> The country has a presidential system of government, with a unicameral legislature and a multi-party system. Nevertheless, there are also some obstacles to the country's democratic institutions, such as a lack of transparency and accountability in government and a high concentration of power among a small class of political elites.<ref name=TI>{{cite web|title=Transparency International Report on Costa Rica|date=2022|publisher=Transparency International|url=https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/costa-rica}}</ref>

=== Public services ===
Costa Rica's government provides many public services, including health care, education, and social welfare programs. The "Caja de Seguro Social" in Costa Rica maneuvered through the COVID-19 Pandemic with extreme precaution, providing one of the best responses by public healthcare systems. Their public health care system attests to strong political institutions and its 70% of its citizens entirely depend on the services.<ref name=CU>{{cite web|title=Costa Rica, Comparative Health Policy|date=March 2023|publisher=Columbia University|url=https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/comparative-health-policy-library/costa-rica-summary}}</ref> These services are generally well-funded and accessible to the general public. However, there are also concerns about the quality and productivity of these services and the sustainability of the country's public spending.<ref name=IMF>{{cite web|last= Bala |first= Analisa|title=Costa Rica Prioritizes Public Health|date=March 9, 2022|publisher=International Monetary Fund|url=https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2022/03/09/cf-costa-rica-prioritizes-public-health}}</ref>