The overall unemployment rate in Panama increased from 4.1% in 2013 to 4.8% in 2014. This included 3.5% (or 61,616 people) who were openly unemployed and an additional 1.4% (or 24,289 people) assessed as being in the “hidden unemployed”, according to figures published by the National Statistics Agency. Nearly two-thirds of the absolute increase in the number of jobless...
Panama is a small and open economy in which investment is normally well in excess of savings. In 2014 the current account deficit amounted to some $5.3bn, or 12% of GDP, according to the IMF.
Diversified across various sectors, over recent years Panama’s economy has been notable for its resilience in face of problems in key trading partners such as Venezuela and comparatively rapid growth in a regional context. In 2014 Panama’s GDP was $43.8bn, while its per capita income reached $11,147, according to the IMF. Panama’s real GDP expanded by 7.8% annually over...
The market for dollar-denominated Peruvian corporate bonds has grown by a factor of 80 since 2010, swelling from $200m to $16bn by 2014, according to Bloomberg. Demand among foreign investors has surged, propelled by economic growth and the upgrade of the country’s sovereign credit rating over the period. In the local market, after a slow first quarter, the amount of...
The development of Peru’s capital markets continues apace, driven by the growing number of increasingly sophisticated local institutional investors. The growth of private pension fund administrators ( Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones, AFPs), life insurance companies and mutual funds, as well as the emergence of local family offices, have all played a part in this...
Despite numerous government initiatives conceived over the years to tackle workforce informality in Peru, it remains a major problem that shows few signs of swift resolution. Although the data vary depending on the definitions of “informality”, about 65% of businesses were considered informal as of April 2014. This compares unfavourably to some of Peru’s poorer...
Stay updated on how some of the world’s most promising markets are being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and what actions governments and private businesses are taking to mitigate challenges and ensure their long-term growth story continues.
Register now and also receive a complimentary 2-month licence to the OBG Research Terminal.
Register Here×