Peter Poupakis
Economy
 Panama depends largely on its geographical
position.
 Its economy is based on well-developed
service industries, including the Panama
Canal, banking, insurance, and government.
 Panama dosent print any money,
independent monetary policy.
Economy
 In 1991, Panamas economic groups was
among the strongest in the Western
Hemispehere, the econmy contiued to slow
down in 1998
 In December 1991, Panama Canal and all
American bases were returned to the
government, comprising 364,000 acres and
estimated to be worth $4 billion. Economic
growth slowed thereafter.
Economy
 In 2006, Panama announced plans for the expansion of
the canal
 This expansion created many new jobs, which helped
the economy
 Panama was expected to be the one of the fastest
growing economies in Central America between 2010
ans 2014
Economy
Judicial System
 Judicial authority rests with the Supreme
Court.
 It is composed of nine magistrates and nine
alternates. They are all appointed by the
president for 10 year term
 There are 4 superior courts.
 18 circuit courts
Judicial System
 At the local level, there are 2 types of
administrative judges, corregidores and night
(police)
 They hear minor civil and criminal cases involing
sentences of less than 1 year
 The 1996 amendment to the constitution
abolished the standing military and provided for a
temporary special police force to protect the
border
Judicial System
 The Judicial Technical Police perform criminal
investigations to supports public prosecutors
 The constitution guarantee a right to counsel for
defendants and requires the provision of public
defenders for criminals who cant afford 0ne
 Trial by the jury is affored in some circumstances
Political Parties
 Panamas traditional political parties were
the Liberals and the Cobservatives
 Their difference s are in the issue of church
and state power
 With the election of Eenstro Perez
Balladares to be presidency in May 1994, the
democratic party retured to power
Political Parties
 The coalition gained effective control of the National
Assembly as well as the executive branch
 in the 2009 election, Democratic Partywas the leading
party with 26 seats
 followed by the Panamenista Party with 22 seats
 Democratic Party with only 14 seats
Transportation
 Panama has a tota of 17,443 miles of roads
 There are 120 vechiles per 1000 people in the coutry
 There are 118 airports, which served 6.35 million
passengers in 2009
 There are a total of 47 miles of railway lines
 panama has approximately 497 miles of navigable
water ways
Transportation
 The Panama Canal travelesesthe coutry and is 51 miles
in length
 Constructing the canal involed cutting htrough
mountains and damming the Chagres Lake
 The United States turned over complete control of the
canal to Panama on Dec 31 1999
Industy
manufactering consists principally
on food processing and alcholic
beverage production sugar,
cermics, tropical clothing,
cigarettes, hats, furniture, shoes,
soap, and edible oils
Industry
Pamana had the potential to
further develope its mining
industry
Panama currently suffers from a
shortage of skilled labor, but has
an oversupply of unskilled labor
Industry
Other mancfactured products
include clothing, chemicals,
cement, and construction
products for domestic
consumption
This construction industry had
became more important
Landforms and Climates
Panama is located on the
southernmost end of the Isthmus
of panama, is a hilly,thickly forest
country
The nation includes some 1600
islands
Landforms and Climates
The Panama canal essentially
divides Panama into eastern and
western regions
Panamas landscapes is also
naturally divided into two region:
The lowlands and highlands
Landforms and Climates
Environment
Panama is home to rich variety of
animals life, being so close to
South America
species on the continent: pumas,
armadillios, sloths, and varieties
of monkeys
Enviroment
environment
Environment
Contemporary Issues
 Since the opening of the Panama Canal, over 1 million
ships have traveled though its locks
 Plans to expand the canal began in 2001, and in April
2006 Panamanian voters overwhelmingly approved a
referendum to proceed with a $5.25 billion canalexpansion project, to be financed through toll
revenues.
Contemporary Issues
 Panama has had strong economic performances
through the first decade of the 21st century, even
weathering the global recession of 2008–2009
relatively well, with substantial income from the
Panama Canal, the Colon Free Trade Zone, banking,
tourism, and other sources.
Foods and Holidays
Traditional Panamanian food is
hot and spicy
Many dishes include fish
For a snack, many Panamanians
prefer fried potatoes or tamales
Food and Holidays
Foods and Holidays
Independence day: November 3rd
Flag day: November 4th
The festival of the Black
Christ: October 21st
New Years: Janurary 1st
Christmas: December 25th
Facts and figures
Population is 3,559,408 estimation
in 2013
World Population Rank of the
world is 130th
Population Density is 47.9 people
per square mile
Political Map
 The capital of Panama is Panama: 12D Long,79D Lat
 The Northernmost City: El Porvenir 11D Long, 79D Lat
 The Southernmost City: Puerto Pina14D Long, 78D
Lat
 The Easternmost City: Puerto Armuelles 12D Long,
81D Lat
 The WesternmostCity: Chepigana 12D Long, 78D Lat
 Panama." Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the
Nations
 "Panama: Country Overview." World Geography:
Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO, 2013.
Web. 10 Dec. 2013.