{
  "title": "Central America: Economic Progress and Reforms",
  "publication": "Departmental Papers, November 24, 2008",
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  "summary": "Central America has made substantial progress in recent years in moving economic reforms forward and deepening regional and global integration. As result of these efforts, the region has experienced higher growth, increased capital inflows, and some reductions in poverty rates.",
  "authors": [
    "Dominique Desruelle",
    "Alfred Schipke"
  ],
  "publishDate": "2008-11-24",
  "series": "Departmental Papers",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Summary",
      "content": "- Central America has made substantial progress in recent years in moving economic reforms forward and deepening regional and global integration.\n- As result of these efforts, the region has experienced higher growth, increased capital inflows, and some reductions in poverty rates.\n- But Central America remains vulnerable to adverse shocks and continues to face widespread poverty.\n- While today Central America is in better condition to face such shocks, the current turmoil in global financial markets and U.S. growth slowdown could put at risk the hard-won gains of recent years.\n- Faced with these challenges, the authorities are monitoring developments closely and are taking precautionary measures, but they also need to continue implementing productivity-enhancing reforms and measures aimed at reducing income inequality and poverty."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key findings and policy implications",
      "content": "- Economic reforms and deeper regional and global integration contributed to higher growth, increased capital inflows, and some reductions in poverty rates.\n- Vulnerabilities remain: exposure to adverse shocks, widespread poverty, and risk from external developments such as turmoil in global financial markets and U.S. growth slowdown.\n- Policy priorities identified:\n  - Continue implementing productivity-enhancing reforms.\n  - Implement measures aimed at reducing income inequality and poverty.\n  - Maintain close monitoring of external developments and take precautionary measures as needed."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Subjects and keywords (as listed)",
      "content": "- Subjects: Customs unions, Financial institutions, Financial markets, Fiscal policy, Income, International trade, National accounts, Securities, Stock markets\n- Keywords: Baltics, Caribbean, Central America, customs union, Customs unions, DP, DPPP, Europe, financial market, Gini coefficient, Global, gross domestic product, Income, net importer, Securities, Stock markets, tax burden, value-added tax\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Central America: Economic Progress and Reforms\n  - Central America: Economic Progress and Reforms (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Central America: Economic Progress and Reforms (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n- América Central: Progreso económico y reformas; Departamento del Hemisferio Occidental; 2008.\n  - América Central: Progreso económico y reformas; Departamento del Hemisferio Occidental; 2008. (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - América Central: Progreso económico y reformas; Departamento del Hemisferio Occidental; 2008. (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/departmental-papers-policy-papers/issues/2016/12/31/central-america-economic-progress-and-reforms-22069"
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    "Authors: Dominique Desruelle, Alfred Schipke",
    "Published: November 24, 2008",
    "Series: Departmental Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781589067653.087",
    "Central America has made substantial progress in recent years in moving economic reforms forward and deepening regional and global integration.",
    "As result of these efforts, the region has experienced higher growth, increased capital inflows, and some reductions in poverty rates.",
    "But Central America remains vulnerable to adverse shocks and continues to face widespread poverty.",
    "While today Central America is in better condition to face such shocks, the current turmoil in global financial markets and U.S. growth slowdown could put at risk the hard-won gains of recent years.",
    "Faced with these challenges, the authorities are monitoring developments closely and are taking precautionary measures, but they also need to continue implementing productivity-enhancing reforms and measures aimed at reducing income inequality and poverty.",
    "Economic reforms and deeper regional and global integration contributed to higher growth, increased capital inflows, and some reductions in poverty rates.",
    "Vulnerabilities remain: exposure to adverse shocks, widespread poverty, and risk from external developments such as turmoil in global financial markets and U.S. growth slowdown.",
    "Policy priorities identified:",
    "Subjects: Customs unions, Financial institutions, Financial markets, Fiscal policy, Income, International trade, National accounts, Securities, Stock markets",
    "Keywords: Baltics, Caribbean, Central America, customs union, Customs unions, DP, DPPP, Europe, financial market, Gini coefficient, Global, gross domestic product, Income, net importer, Securities, Stock markets, tax burden, value-added tax",
    "**Central America: Economic Progress and Reforms**",
    "**América Central: Progreso económico y reformas; Departamento del Hemisferio Occidental; 2008.**"
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