A UVM blog Rural Livelihoods in a Globalized World Blog

1. Boston Scientific is a transnational corporation and medical device manufacturer. This corporation operates in 40 different countries around the world and across 6 continents. These facilities include headquarters, institutes for advancing science, customer fulfillment centers, and manufacturing plants. Boston Scientific employees 38,000 people globally. Coyol, Costa Rica and Heredia, Costa Rica are home to two of thirteen manufacturing plants that make products for business units and research facilities. These facilities collectively employ over 4,500 people in Costa Rica and the corporation is the largest medical device operator in Costa Rica. Medical equipment is the second largest export of Costa Rica, accounting for 7.3% of exports.
2. These facilities employ a great number of people in Costa Rica which can be seen as a potential benefit to the economy of Costa Rica, as the corporation supplies a salary to thousands who can then spend this money in the Costa Rican economy. On the other hand, American transnational corporations, such as Boston Scientific, can potentially exploit labor and take advantage of tax incentives in foreign countries. Also, the effects of production unequally benefit the corporation in America, as this is where most of the money from manufacturing goes. Over 50% of Boston Scientific’s employees are women in Costa Rica which is an incredible social good as the total labor force in Costa Rica is 39% female. Environmentally, these facilities may pose issues regarding hazardous waste and emissions, however, the corporation claims to address environmental concerns: they note a 67% reduction in GHG emissions since 2009 as of 2020 and the fact that 71% of purchased electricity was from renewable sources in 2020. Furthermore, it is important to note that these facts were self-reported and that greenwashing and false environmental impact statements are common in the case of profit-driven TNCs.
3. I believe that neoliberalism best represents the presence of Boston Scientific in Costa Rica as I speculate that this manufacturing plant is an attempt by the corporation to limit both tax and regulation. Furthermore, the service of medical equipment (which arguably should be public) is privatized to encourage competition. Costa Ricans do not experience a fair share of the benefit of production, however, according to the neoliberal perspective, wealth trickles down. Lack of government regulation and a free market system characterizes this relationship.

References:

Zúñiga, A. (2021, August 3). Med Tech company to open factory, create 700 new jobs in Costa Rica. The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://ticotimes.net/2021/06/29/med-tech-company-to-open-factory-create-700-new-jobs-in-costa-rica

Cinde.org. (2019, June 27). Boston scientific to expand workforce in Costa Rica. CINDE Invest in Costa Rica. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://www.cinde.org/en/essential-news/boston-scientific-to-expand-workforce-in-costa-rica#:~:text=Boston%20Scientific%20currently%20employs%20over,Lead%20Silver%20in%20Costa%20Rica.

Trading Economics. (2020). Costa Rica – labor force, FEMALE2022 data 2023 forecast 1990-2020 historical. Costa Rica – Labor Force, Female – 2022 Data 2023 Forecast 1990-2020 Historical. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://tradingeconomics.com/costa-rica/labor-force-female-percent-of-total-labor-force-wb-data.html#:~:text=Labor%20force%2C%20female%20(%25%20of,compiled%20from%20officially%20recognized%20sources.

Boston Scientific Corporation or its affiliates. (n.d.). Corporate responsibility: Protecting the environment. Boston Scientific Advancing Science for Life. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/corporate-social-responsibility/planet.html

Images:

Boston Scientific Corporation or its affiliates. (2022). Locations. Boston Scientific Advancing Science for Life. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/about-us/locations.html.

The economy of Cuba was materially based in agriculture including sugar, tobacco, and cattle. The colony’s economy was built on extraction including the mining of copper. Enslaved Africans were brought to Cuba and served as the main source of labor alongside Indigenous people from Cuba.

Cuba was colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century under the leadership of Diego de Velazquez and lieutenant Hernán Cortés. The island was conquered in a violent matter and power and order was held in a similar manner. Those who attempted to escape or resist forced labor were often killed.

Christianity was the main ideological foundation of the colony as Pope Alexander VI commanded the Spanish to command and convert the pagans of the New World to Catholicism. This is how conquistadors justified their presence as bringing goodness to the colonized Cubans.

https://www.cubahistory.org/en/spanish-settlement.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Cuba#Spanish_conquest_and_early_colonization_(1492_-_1800)

1. Cocoa is produced from the seeds of fruits on cocoa trees on farms on the Osa Peninsula. The seeds are fermented, dried, and roasted to produce cocoa butter and powder which are then used to create products such as chocolate; this process adds value to cocoa. This can be done on site at farms such as The Osa Cocoa Chocolate Factory and Cocoa Ethika. These businesses sell their own chocolate both online and locally to grocery stores such as Super Corcovado and Pulperia Karla. (https://www.cocoaethika.com/our_story) (https://osa-cacao-chocolate.business.site/)
2. Tourism to the Osa Peninsula is extremely prevalent as the area’s natural environment is unique and attracts tourists. The Peninsula’s intense biodiversity, beaches, and eco-tourism destinations is a main reason for the industry. Visitors pay businesses for tours, lodging, food, and souvenirs. Lapa Rios, Iguana Lodge, and La Leona Eco Lodge are businesses that profit off of providing services to tourists. (https://www.laparios.com/jungle-guide-school/) (http://www.laleonaecolodge.com/) (https://iguanalodge.com/)
3. Palm Trees are grown on the Osa Peninsula on plantations and farms such as Finca Perro Grande for the purpose of using the fruit of the trees to produce palm oil. Oil production includes sterilizing and pressing the fruit at manufacturing sites. This usually occurs at an off-site facility where the fruit is exported to. The process of making oil ads value to the product and is sold and exported to various companies to be added into packaged products. Many companies around the world use palm oil in their products such as Nutella, Hershey, and Nestle. (https://www.american-european.net/costa-rica-real-estate/farms-ranches/for-sale/south-pacific-beaches/dominical-beach-real-estate/price-reduced-osa-peninsula-palm-oil-producing-242-acre-farm/) (https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/8-things-know-about-palm-oil) (https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/8-things-know-about-palm-oil)
4. Pineapples are grown on the Osa Peninsula on farms including organic and permaculture farms. Pineapples are sold to locals as a source of food and also exported to be sold to other consumers. Pineapples are usually not a value-added product as the whole fruit is when the product has most value in the market. PINDECO is a multinational corporation that controls nearly half of all pineapple production in Costa Rica; this corporation supplies pineapples to the United States and other countries. On the other hand, pineapple production and consumption can be more embedded and is grown at Rancho Raices de Osa and consumed by those who are touring the farm. They can also be supplied to supermarkets in Costa Rica such as Mini Super RD. (https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d8231.html) (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g309284-d3174761-Reviews-Rancho_Raices_de_Osa-Puerto_Jimenez_Osa_Peninsula_Province_of_Puntarenas.html)
5. Bananas are produced on the Osa Peninsula on farms and banana plantations. The fruit is grown on banana trees and once harvested they are ready to be sold and consumed; there is usually no steps that add value. Cocoterra Rainforest Permaculture is a farm on the Osa that produces bananas and this farm sells the surplus bananas to local vendors such as the Verdulería El Mercadito de Osa. Bananas may also be sold to suppliers such as Chiquita and Dole. (https://rainforestpermaculture.org/about/)(https://www.bananalink.org.uk/partners/costa-rica/#:~:text=Production%20and%20export%20of%20Costa,directly%20more%20than%2040%2C000%20peopl)