Business development observatory in the Upper Region of Guanacaste, Costa Rica for the determination of factors that promote or limit the opening of commercial businesses, period 2013-2022

Abstract

This article aims to design a business development observatory in the Upper Guanacaste Region for the determination of factors influencing the opening of business. Methodologically it is a research of mixed approach, non-experimental, of transversal temporality and based on the analysis of the variables business behavior, profile of companies, environmental factors, development of the region, and the role of the local government in the operation of the companies, were used as data collection techniques the documentary analysis with registered companies in the region patented, the semi-structured interview and the survey; participated in the study eight representatives of local governments and 106 companies distributed in the four cantons of the area (Cañas, Tilarán, Bagaces and Abangares). The main findings include the knowledge of the situation of business development in this region in the period 2013-2022 showing steady growth in the region, being the canton of Cañas that owns the most companies and collection by commercial licences, in addition the canton that has had the fastest growth is Tilarán. Environmental factors that promote business opening such as education, development programmes, attractions and support for entrepreneurship are identified; counterpart factors that can generate business closures include the size of the market, competition and ignorance to formalize the business. Finally, as a strategy for the implementation and continuity of the observatory, the elements of up-to-date and continuous information, the cooperation between local governments with the patent officers and the area related to local economic development are proposed to keep the information up to date, and to do field studies annually for the identification of influential factors in business development to promote concrete actions (implementation of strategies) towards and the region for the continuity and growth of and thus local development.