Panama’s Growth Prospects: Determinants and Sectoral Perspectives
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Summary:
This paper estimates medium-term potential growth for a country undergoing significant structural and secular changes. Our forward-looking framework, incorporating three analytical approaches for examining economic prospects, constitutes an important complement to typical backward-looking methods that filter or extrapolate historical data. In particular, the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in 2016 highlights significant structural changes underway in the Panamanian economy. We first analyze growth determinants and find that Panama is well-placed to maintain its business model, with improvements in education and governance important to support growth. Second, the current pipeline of investment projects can help sustain investment-led growth, although at a more moderate pace. Third, further development of the logistics and tourism sectors holds promise to further build on Panama’s comparative advantage.
Series:
Working Paper No. 2017/150
Subject:
Economic sectors Expenditure Infrastructure National accounts Private investment Public investment and public-private partnerships (PPP) Tourism Transportation
English
Publication Date:
July 7, 2017
ISBN/ISSN:
9781484307861/1018-5941
Stock No:
WPIEA2017150
Pages:
30
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