{
  "title": "Panama: 2017 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report for Panama",
  "publication": "IMF Staff Country Reports, May 4, 2017",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/05/04/panama-2017-article-iv-consultation-press-release-and-staff-report-for-panama-44875",
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  "summary": "This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights Panama’s economy as the fastest growing in Latin America over the past two decades.",
  "publishDate": "2017-05-04",
  "series": "IMF Staff Country Reports",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Macroeconomic performance",
      "content": "- Panama’s economy is described as the fastest growing in Latin America over the past two decades.\n- Economic growth moderated to 4.9 percent in 2016 in the face of external headwinds.\n- The outlook is characterized as favorable despite heightened external uncertainty."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Price and labor indicators",
      "content": "- Inflation is described as stable and low, but has risen slightly.\n- Unemployment is described as subdued, but has risen slightly."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Public finances and debt",
      "content": "- Fiscal consolidation continues in line with fiscal rule targets.\n- Public debt is assessed as sustainable."
    },
    {
      "heading": "External sector",
      "content": "- The current account deficit is described as declining."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Financial sector and credit",
      "content": "- The financial sector is characterized as stable.\n- Credit growth remains strong, but has begun to slow recently."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy themes and subject areas covered",
      "content": "- Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT)\n- Banking and commercial banks\n- Crime and financial institutions\n- Financial regulation and supervision\n- Public debt and revenue administration\n- Other referenced topics: authority, Central America, CR, deficit, disaster risk management program, financing, Fondo de Ahorro, Global, IMF staff estimate, ISCR, Medium-term growth prospect, NFPS deficit, Panama energy diagnostic\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Country Report\n  - Country Report (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Country Report (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/05/04/panama-2017-article-iv-consultation-press-release-and-staff-report-for-panama-44875"
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    "Published: May 4, 2017",
    "Series: IMF Staff Country Reports",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475597714.002",
    "Panama’s economy is described as the fastest growing in Latin America over the past two decades.",
    "Economic growth moderated to 4.9 percent in 2016 in the face of external headwinds.",
    "The outlook is characterized as favorable despite heightened external uncertainty.",
    "Inflation is described as stable and low, but has risen slightly.",
    "Unemployment is described as subdued, but has risen slightly.",
    "Fiscal consolidation continues in line with fiscal rule targets.",
    "Public debt is assessed as sustainable.",
    "The current account deficit is described as declining.",
    "The financial sector is characterized as stable.",
    "Credit growth remains strong, but has begun to slow recently.",
    "Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT)",
    "Banking and commercial banks",
    "Crime and financial institutions",
    "Financial regulation and supervision",
    "Public debt and revenue administration",
    "Other referenced topics: authority, Central America, CR, deficit, disaster risk management program, financing, Fondo de Ahorro, Global, IMF staff estimate, ISCR, Medium-term growth prospect, NFPS deficit, Panama energy diagnostic",
    "**Country Report**"
  ],
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