Closures and sales are next step for reform in Costa Rica

The closure, fusion and sale of public institutions and programs that duplicate functions have tok be the next steps toward soling the problem of Costa Rica's fiscal deficit, according to specialists.

It is no secret that the fiscal reform passed by the legislators on its first hearing will not be sufficient to solve the deficit, which is reckoned to be about 7 percent of GDP by the end of the year, according to Central Bank estimates.

If the reforms can be put into effect, only optimists believe that the deficit would stand at 1.7 percent, which clearly is not enough,