After the Civil War of 1948, the 1950s and 1960s were characterized by a sound political strategy by the Costa Rican citizens. The voters alternated electing candidates of the National Liberation Party (PLN) or of the Social Christian parties, the two main groups that had resulted from the Civil War.
In this period, the welfare system and the public school institutions expanded greatly. By the end of the 1970s, Costa Rica showed impressive social data: life expectancy had reached 70 years, infant mortality was 20/1000, the literacy rate was 90%, the welfare system covered three quarters of salaried workers and unemployment was at a low 5%. As a result of this economical and social stability the period between the 1950s and the 1970s witnessed a demographic increase.
Another factor that contributed to this economic growth, was the considerable profit made from the export of coffee, as well as from sugar, bananas and meat. The governmental and private infrastructure also grew due to the amount of personnel and infrastructure that could handle the international trade of these products.
The period between 1950 and the late 1970s was a golden era characterized by impressive economic, social and demographic growth, mainly sustained by debt, which in 1980, gave way to a crisis marked by a high inflation and a high devaluation of the national currency, combined with a decrease in the international prices of exports. By the mid 1980s, the situation had improved somewhat.
In 1986, President Oscar Arias Sanchez, concentrated on resolving bellicose problems in the region. He formulated a peace plan that was signed by five Central American presidents in 1987, and which won him the Nobel Peace Prize. The 1980s also saw the beginning of a serious tourist industry in the country, which has since then grown and specialized, becoming one the main economical activities of the country.
In 1990, Rafael Angel Calderon (son of social reformer Calderon) was elected as President, being followed up in 1994 by Jose Maria Figueres (son of Civil War lead Figueres). At the end of his term Miguel Angel Rodriguez was elected and in 2002 Abel Pacheco resulted the winner of a two rounds election.
During the 1990s the country got into the high technology industry sector, including the production of electronic components activity which has become one of the main lines of export.
In this decade, the political unhappiness of the voters gave birth to a third major political force in the country, the Citizens Action Party, which even became close to later wining the presidential elections in the year 2006, which were won by Peace Nobel Prize Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez.
The first years of the XXI century have seen the country inmersed in the trends of globalization and free trade agreements, including one with the United States of America, which was consulted through a referendum, through which the voters approved it. The approval of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States of America led to the breaking of the State monopoly in insurance and in most of the telecommunication services.
In February of 2010, Laura Chinchilla became the first woman to obtain the Presidency of country by a significant majority of votes.