Panama Failing to Meet Fiscal Deficit Target

While legally the fiscal deficit may reach as high as 3% during 2011, the government had announced that it would not exceed 2%, which now looks impossible to achieve.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tax revenues are not meeting the levels predicted at the beginning of the budget year, which seems likely to mean that Panama's fiscal deficit will go above the target of 2% of GDP set for the year

Revenue from taxes on income and real estate are the main sources where collection levels are below projections.

New predictions announced by Mahesh Khemlani, the Panamanian Vice-minister for finance, state that the difference between government expenditure and revenue could reach 2.2% or 2.3% of GDP.

More on this topic

Panama's Sovereign Fund

February 2012

According to government projections, Panama's future sovereign fund will have $12.5 billion in assets by 2025.

This fund will be used to combat natural disasters or adverse economic circumstances.

"Every year, of the contributions generated by the Canal to the State, a portion will go to the National Treasury - the equivalent of 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) - and anything in excess of that amount will be saved" in the sovereign fund, explained Prensa.com.

Panama to Implement "Sovereign Fund"

August 2011

The fund will collect the additional revenue generated by the Panama Canal when the new locks come into operation.

Alberto Vallarino, Minister of Economy and Finance, explained that it will function as a stabilization fund, ensuring that budgets are balanced and without deficit, adding that its management will be totally independent from the government.

Fiscal Deficit: The Mother of all Evils (2)

February 2012

Two years ago we used the same title to report on the growing trend of the debt / GDP ratio in Costa Rica. Today the news is that this ratio has reached nearly 50%.

The consequences are as you would expect: upward trend in interest rates because the state must meet its cash needs competing for credit with the productive sectors, and reduced state investment, especially in infrastructure, which compromises the ability of the economy to grow.

Fusades: El Salvador Could Lose the Stand-by Agreement

November 2011

Failure to meet macroeconomic goals set by the IMF for 2011 would jeopardize the precautionary facility that has been negotiated.

The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Fusades) has recommended the Government on several occasions to adjust the budget and make a fiscal pact.

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