These trends were particularly clear during the times of the import substitution industrialisation strategy (ISIS) (Rodriguez-Clare, 2001). During the first phase of ISIS (1963-73), the availability of skilled labour offered comparative advantages to Costa Rica w hich enabled the country to derive greater benefits from market opportunities and global integration than others (e.g. adhesion to the Central American Common Market). The agricultural sector also improved, as increased yields and diversification fostered by research and technological diffusion activities were developed by government and academic research centres (Rodriguez-Clare, Trejos and Saenz, 2003).