02069cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF022790 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 20.00 USD 9781513570921 1934-7685 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.. Costa Rica : 2021 Article IV Consultation and Request for an Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Costa Rica. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2021. 1 online resource (129 pages) IMF Staff Country Reports <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students Costa Rica has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, notwithstanding the authorities' proactive policy response and the country's well-established universal healthcare system. The socio-economic impact has been significant, exacerbating an already fragile outlook and pre-existing imbalances, with a significant toll on economic activity and unemployment-especially among women and the young. The shock has further weakened the country's fiscal position, undermining the expected yields from the ambitious fiscal reform launched in late 2018, and generated a large financing gap. Financial support through the Fund's Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) in 2020 provided temporary relief to respond to the pandemic, including by catalyzing financial assistance from other official partners, but financing needs remain sizable over the medium term. Mode of access: Internet IMF Staff Country Reports; Country Report ; No. 2021/048 Full text available on IMF https://elibrary.imf.org/openurl?genre=journal&issn=1934-7685&volume=2021&issue=048 IMF e-Library