01944cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF019013 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781484394007 1934-7685 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. Panama : 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Panama. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2019. 1 online resource (74 pages) IMF Staff Country Reports <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students Panama has had the longest and fastest economic expansion in recent Latin American history. The economy has expanded at an average rate of about 6 percent per annum over the last quarter of a century, with Panama achieving one of the highest per capita income in Latin America. More recently, GDP grew by about 5 1\2 percent in 2017 (driven by the expanded Canal), and then slowed to 3 3/4 percent (y/y) in H1-2018. Inflation remained subdued, reaching almost 1 percent (y/y) in September 2018. The external current account deficit stayed at 8 percent of GDP in 2017, mostly covered by FDI. The fiscal position continued to be strong, with the overall deficit of the non-financial public sector (NFPS) at about 1 1\2 percent of GDP. Credit growth has decelerated as financial conditions have started to tighten. Mode of access: Internet IMF Staff Country Reports; Country Report ; No. 2019/011 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2019/011/002.2019.issue-011-en.xml IMF e-Library