{
  "title": "Central America: Global Integration and Regional Cooperation",
  "publication": "Occasional Papers, July 14, 2005",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/occasional-papers/issues/2016/12/31/central-america-global-integration-and-regional-cooperation-18160",
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  "summary": "Central America has received growing attention as a region that is integrating successfully into the global economy. This paper examines—among other things—the macroeconomic and fiscal implications of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA-DR), noting that the agreement will provide",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Overview",
      "content": "- Central America has received growing attention as a region that is integrating successfully into the global economy.\n- The paper examines the macroeconomic and fiscal implications of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA-DR), noting that the agreement will provide a boost to the integration process.\n- To maximize benefits—faster sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and social progress—the region needs ambitious structural reforms and enhanced regional cooperation."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key findings",
      "content": "- CAFTA-DR is expected to provide a boost to the region’s integration into the global economy.\n- Achieving faster sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and social progress requires:\n  - Ambitious structural reforms to entrench macroeconomic stability.\n  - Ensuring an attractive environment for investment.\n  - Stepping up regional cooperation in specific areas (see below)."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy recommendations and areas for regional cooperation",
      "content": "- Taxes and tax administration:\n  - Strengthen tax policy and tax administration across the region to support revenue mobilization and fiscal stability.\n- Financial systems:\n  - Deepen and harmonize financial systems to improve resilience and integration.\n- Statistics:\n  - Improve statistical capacity and comparability to inform policy and regional coordination.\n- Structural reforms:\n  - Advance reforms that support macroeconomic stability and an investment-friendly environment."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Subject coverage and keywords",
      "content": "- Subjects: Exchange rate arrangements, Foreign exchange, Imports, International trade, Public debt, Revenue administration, Tariffs, Taxes\n- Keywords include: bank, Caribbean, Central America, Central American country, country, debt-to-GDP, definitions in El Salvador, Europe, exchange rate, Exchange rate arrangements, exchange rate regime, Imports, North America, OP, policy reform, Primer Banco del Istmo, tariff, Tariffs\n\n---\n\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/occasional-papers/issues/2016/12/31/central-america-global-integration-and-regional-cooperation-18160"
    }
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    "Authors: Markus Rodlauer, Alfred Schipke",
    "Published: July 14, 2005",
    "Series: Occasional Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781589064461.084",
    "Central America has received growing attention as a region that is integrating successfully into the global economy.",
    "The paper examines the macroeconomic and fiscal implications of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA-DR), noting that the agreement will provide a boost to the integration process.",
    "To maximize benefits—faster sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and social progress—the region needs ambitious structural reforms and enhanced regional cooperation.",
    "CAFTA-DR is expected to provide a boost to the region’s integration into the global economy.",
    "Achieving faster sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and social progress requires:",
    "Taxes and tax administration:",
    "Financial systems:",
    "Statistics:",
    "Structural reforms:",
    "Subjects: Exchange rate arrangements, Foreign exchange, Imports, International trade, Public debt, Revenue administration, Tariffs, Taxes",
    "Keywords include: bank, Caribbean, Central America, Central American country, country, debt-to-GDP, definitions in El Salvador, Europe, exchange rate, Exchange rate arrangements, exchange rate regime, Imports, North America, OP, policy reform, Primer Banco del Istmo, tariff, Tariffs"
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