The mirage of Panama's skyscrapers against informality

The informality rate in Panama's labor market reached 48.2% of the economically active population, exposing the deep dualism of an economic model highly concentrated in the financial and logistics services of the capital, yet unable to bring the population of the interior provinces and indigenous areas into the formal labor market.

The capital's skyscrapers and luxury shopping centers coexist with rural communities that lack drinking water, reliable electricity and basic health services.

Economic growth as measured by GDP does not translate into an equitable distribution of wealth or into quality jobs.

Generating inclusive economic dynamism requires diversifying production toward sustainable agriculture and light manufacturing, moving beyond exclusive dependence on the platform of transnational services and decisively investing in the technical training of young people.