LABOR-FORCE GROWTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN COSTA-RICA

This study examines the economy-wide impacts of labor force growth on the environment in Costa Rica under various assumptions about the amou nt of physical and human capital with which additional workers are end owed. A computable general equilibrium (CGE) model is constructed whic h includes 10 environmental indicators. Results indicate that the econ omy-wide impacts of labor force growth are significant, especially Ryb czynski-type impacts on the economy's production possibilities frontie r. These impacts vary significantly according to the amounts of physic al and human capital with which additional workers are endowed. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. JEL classifications: O10 , O54, Q20.