In a practical simplification, there are two types of countries: those that prosper and those that do not. Apply the concept also to companies, institutions, families and all types of human organizations. Some advance and others stagnate or regress.

Encapsulated in this blog entry, I think the difference has everything to do with values. For this reason, it is appropriate to review those identified by Lawrence E. Harrison, from his 1999 book “The Pan-American Dream“. In a quick translation, the following are the values or virtues that foster prosperity.

Time orientation: Cultures that progress emphasize the future; those that stagnate focus on the present and the past. The vision to the future implies overcoming and influencing destiny, rewards in life and a positive economic sum.
2. Work is central to well-being in prosperous societies, while it is a burden in static societies. In the former, work gives structure to daily life. Discipline, creativity and achievement are rewarded not only financially but also in personal satisfaction and self-esteem.
3. Frugality is the mother of investment and financial security in progressive cultures, while it is a threat to “egalitarian” societies, which are defensive of the status quo and usually have a zero-sum view (to win one must lose the other).
4. Education is the key to prosperity in progressive societies, while it is of marginal importance in static ones, with the exception of their elites.
5. Merit is at the heart of sustained advancement in progressive societies, while connections, family ties and tradition count more in stagnant societies.
6. In the case of nations that facilitate prosperity, community is where identity and trust are achieved, beyond the family and into society itself. In cultures that tend to stagnate or regress, identity is defined in very narrow circles, and they are more prone to corruption, tax evasion and nepotism. They are also less inclined toward philanthropy.
7. Ethical codes are more rigorous in progressive cultures. With the exception of Belgium, Taiwan, Italy and South Korea, the most advanced democracies appear among the 25 least corrupt in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. Chile and Botswana were the only “third world” exceptions on that list.
8. Justice and fair play are universal conditions expected in progressive cultures. In static ones, as on a personal level, there is a greater propensity for concepts such as “who you know” or “how much you can afford”.
9. Authority tends to be dispersed and horizontal in affluent societies. Meanwhile, in other societies with a tendency to stagnation, authority tends to be concentrated and vertical.
10. Finally, the influence of religious institutions tends to be less in the civic life of progressive societies. In the others, the influence is substantially greater. In the former, a heterodox vision open to dissent is encouraged, while in the latter there is an inclination to orthodoxy and conformity.

Without going into analysis, to expand on the observations made by Harrison, the important thing is to emphasize that progress, prosperity and the life of people in a society are at stake. That said, in Costa Rica we must address the most visible anti-values that must be changed.

Again in the purpose of the practical, the achievable and powerful, we could soon start by considering some recommendations that we can start with each one of us, without waiting for anyone else:

1. discredit the choteo (war on sarcasm).
2. Celebrate the merit (discard the sawing-floors and celebrate everything we wish to be repeated).
3. Exalt punctuality (take back the clock and respect for the commitment made).
4. Redefine pure life (As a balanced life in harmony and purpose).
5. To protect honesty and work (As key values to sustain prosperity, exalting entrepreneurship).
6. Detonate innovation (Moving from “all quiet”, passivity and conformism, to creativity and innovation).

In the center of our attention is to achieve a path of improvement for the people who live in Costa Rica. We will have to build roads, ports and schools, hospitals, bridges and security, as well as a new mentality.

Competitiveness starts with each one of us.