Donald Trump Elected 45Th President of the USA: Where Does that Leave Costa Rica?

Just a week ago America woke up to learn that Donald Trump had been elected the 45th President of the United States. Winning the electoral vote, Trump beat Hillary Clinton in a close race. Donald Trump, a real estate mogul turned reality star emanates the 21st Century demagogue. A master of ceremonies and power broker, he is not a career politician. Hillary Clinton has been invested in US national politics since before her husband, Bill Clinton, won the election in 1992. The Clinton’s have gone on to become one of the most powerful couples in the USA.

The election broke down into a tireless fight between these two diametrically opposed groups. The Republicans gained the support of the working class disenfranchised people in the US hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs. The Democrats relied on the support of urbanites and the professional class to boast Hillary Clinton failing to engage the grassroots and disenfranchised in a meaningful way. A clear cultural division has emerged in the USA as a result of this election. It is symbolic of a larger struggle between globalization and nationalistic forces around the world. The fate of the USA looks precarious at this moment and so the world holds its breath waiting to see how these startling events play out in international affairs. If Wall Street is any indication, the markets did not crash. In fact, they raised higher.

Likewise, the ultimate impact on Costa Rica is still unknown. Will it be negative since the country has benefitted through trade agreements such as NAFTA? Costa Rica could see decline in the number of jobs moved to its shores from America. Or will this show little effect, as most of those exported jobs are due to be eradicated as a result of automation. The impact of Trump on Latin America relations and trade remains to be seen.

On a high note, we can expect to see a new migration of Americans moving here if things continue to unravel in the USA. As of now real estate companies have already seen an increase in interested buyers. Hand in hand with the real estate business is the rental business and 2017 is projected to be the best year yet, with record numbers in tourism. More tourism means more rentals and more rentals mean more value in real estate. Unhappy with the results? Costa Rica is waiting for you! Want to take advantage of the tourism? Costa Rica is waiting for you!

So, as the world waits to see what the fate of the nation will have on long-term impacts in the world, let us all hope for the best of outcomes.