By Wendy Anders

Every year in July, the National Census Institute (INEC) sends surveyors to a sample of homes throughout Costa Rica to provide updated demographic and economic data to policy makers.

Starting today, the survey, known in Spanish as La Encuesta de Hogares, aims to reach an estimated 13,5000 homes with questions on income, poverty, equality, access to good and services, land use, and access to education, health care and other social programs.

This year the survey has a special additional focus on employment and household expenses, and will take an in-depth look at child labor and teen workers to attempt to understand trends in this area.

People are asked to collaborate with the study which offers a first-hand look at people’s real economic situation to decision makers. Interviewers will be wearing uniforms and have official identification visible.

The information collected, said INEC in a press statement, is presented in aggregate form. No person’s or property’s individual identity or information collected in the study is made public or is accessible to the public at any time.

If you have any doubts and would like to check up on the identity of a surveyor who is at your home, you can contact INEC at this number: 2280-9280, ext 326 or 327.