Panama

For millions of years the Isthmus of Panama has been the bridge adjoining the Americas, shaping the development of life on the continent. Its importance has been magnified in recent centuries, as it is also the shortest land route for maritime goods crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice-versa. As a result, the isthmus has played a vital role in enabling the...

Though one of Latin America’s fastest growing economies, Panama’s political situation stands in contrast to its economic performance. The past decade has seen sustained economic growth, driven by the transport, services and banking sectors. More recently, expansion of the canal and other large public spending infrastructure projects have set the pace of economic...

For decades, many countries in Latin America struggled with corruption, and Panama is no exception. Corruption has become more prevalent in the country’s psyche, however, as more Panamanian officials, including former president Ricardo Martinelli, were indicted recently for a series of alleged corrupt activities.