Editing Openai/695944a4-2764-800b-bcab-639d8dd4a4e9 (section)

==== 📈 2. Economic Recovery and Growth ====
* When Noriega was removed, Panama’s economy was in ruin: sanctions, default, and economic contraction had devastated output, employment, and banking.Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_Panama|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2026-01-04}}</ref>
* Early 1990s onward: With sanctions lifted in 1992 and democracy restored, foreign investment returned, and economic activity began to recover.Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Panama|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2026-01-04}}</ref>
* The economy has diversified and grown strongly over the past decades, often posting high growth rates compared to regional peers. One measure shows Panama routinely among the fastest-growing economies in Latin America.Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_and_the_World_Bank|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2026-01-04}}</ref>
* Growth has been driven by services, finance, logistics, and especially the Panama Canal — a crucial global trade artery. The canal’s expansion in the 2000s further strengthened Panama’s role in world commerce.Americas Quarterly<ref>{{cite web|title=Americas Quarterly|url=https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/panama-30-years-later-is-thriving/|publisher=Americas Quarterly|access-date=2026-01-04}}</ref>

📊 Recent context: The economy still faces short-term fluctuations; for example, growth slowed in 2024 due to specific sectoral issues (like the closure of a major copper mine), but overall structural drivers like Canal revenues and trade remain strong.Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/panamas-economic-growth-slows-29-2024-after-key-mine-closure-2025-03-19/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2026-01-04}}</ref>