Diverse profiles within single-party cabinets: Portfolio allocation in Costa Rica (1978-2014)

Abstract

This chapter examines portfolio allocation in Costa Rica since 1978. In Costa Rica, portfolio allocation is marked by a lack of formal governing coalitions or inter-party agreements. Ministers with a strict partisan profile and expert-partisan predominate in cabinets. The president has weak powers to govern, but strong appointment powers, without any institutional counterbalance. In terms of political power, the Costa Rican case shows that, despite the political weakening of the parliamentary power of the governments since 1994, there has been no tendency towards greater cooperative practices between parties for the formation of the cabinets.