COSTA RICA FACING THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING A DIGITAL, COLLABORATIVE AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY

Abstract

In recent years, Costa Rica has been moving toward new economic models driven by technology, cooperation, and sustainability: digital economy, collaborative economy, and Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). These approaches aim to place people at the center of development and leverage innovation to build a more inclusive nation. However, significant challenges remain, such as the digital divide affecting rural, coastal, and indigenous communities, limiting their access to opportunities. This gap is not only technical but a matter of social justice, requiring meaningful connectivity, access to devices, and digital skills training. The collaborative economy also raises regulatory challenges: ensuring social protection for gig workers and preventing unfair competition between traditional and digital models. A modern legal framework is needed to promote transparency and adapt social security to new employment forms. Meanwhile, the digital economy offers great potential for development but demands closing technological gaps, strengthening cybersecurity, and simplifying public procedures. The challenge is not only technological but human and ethical: ensuring that digitalization benefits everyone. Costa Rica has both the opportunity and responsibility to build an inclusive, connected, and solidarity-based economy that reflects the values that have historically defined the nation.