1. Multidimensional paradigms for diverse development needs Carlos Alvarado Quesada Minister of Labour and Social Security of Costa Rica

2. A sheep…

3. “-…The sheep you asked for is inside. -That is exactly the way I wanted it!”

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5. Costa Rica’s Income distribution by quintile Average monthly household income: USD $1 858

6. Costa Rica’s Income distribution by quintile USD $360 Average monthly household income: USD $1 858 USD $849USD $1 343 USD $2 053 USD $4 684

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8. Finca San Juan Population: 2256 Population poverty: 961 (40%) Average schooling: 7.4 years Total Houses: 478 Houses in bad condition: 132 Rorhmoser Population: 127 Population poverty: 0 (0%) Average schooling: 15 years Total houses: 40 Houses in bad condition: 0 1 km distance Averages can be misleading District Average: Population poverty: 17% Average schooling: 9 years

9. Finca San Juan Rorhmoser 1 km distance Averages can be misleading District Average: Population poverty: 17% Average schooling: 9 years The mid income country reality

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11. Multidimentional poverty index Costa Rica: 4 o más =

12. Comparación pobreza LP y Pobreza IPM

13. Key Messages Challenge the opacity of averages (nobody experiences reality in aggregate) Challenge averages not only from an income perspective, but in different dimensions including local realities. Diverse needs are expressed in several dimensions, and so public policy must express this complexity “Middle income country” is a Sheep-in-the-box category.