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Full Dollarization: TheCase of Panama

Author

Listed:
  • Ilan Goldfajn
  • Gino Olivares

Abstract

This paper analyzes the case of Panama, one of the largest countries currently adopting the dollar as its legal tender, and evaluates some of the predictions of the theory on the costs and benefits of full dollarization. The main conclusions drawn from the case of Panama are that on one hand, dollarization does not guarantee fiscal discipline, the elimination of currency risk does not preclude default risk or the high volatility of sovereign spreads, and that dollarization may increase slightly GDP growth volatility. On the other hand, a dollarized economy delivers an impressive inflation performance and may even reduce the impact of external confidence shocks, although not external real shocks. Finally, it is not clear whether the low interest rates in Panama are a consequence of the dollarization regime or the competitive internationalized banking system.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilan Goldfajn & Gino Olivares, 2001. "Full Dollarization: TheCase of Panama," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Spring 20), pages 101-156, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000425:008708
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Roberto Frenkel & Martin Rapetti, 2010. "A Concise History of Exchange Rate Regimes in Latin America," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2010-01, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
    2. Rösl, Gerhard & Seitz, Franz, 2024. "Uncertainty, politics, and crises: The case for cash," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 5(3).
    3. Akhand Akhtar Hossain, 2009. "Central Banking and Monetary Policy in the Asia-Pacific," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12777.
    4. Augusto de la Torre & Eduardo Levy Yeyati & Sergio L. Schmukler, 2003. "Living and Dying with Hard Pegs: The Rise and Fall of Argentina’s Currency Board," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Spring 20), pages 43-108, January.
    5. Ricardo Hausmann & Ugo Panizza & Carmen Reinhart & Douglas Barrios & Clement Brenot & Jesus Daboin Pacheco & Clemens Graf von Luckner & Frank Muci & Lucila Venturi, 2023. "Towards a Sustainable Recovery for Lebanon's Economy," Growth Lab Working Papers 223, Harvard's Growth Lab.
    6. Nannette Lindenberg & Frank Westermann, 2009. "How Strong is the Case for Dollarization in Costa Rica? A Note on the Business Cycle Comovements with the United States," IEER Working Papers 79, Institute of Empirical Economic Research, Osnabrueck University.
    7. Sebastian Edwards, 2011. "Exchange Rates in Emerging Countries: Eleven Empirical Regularities from Latin America and East Asia," NBER Working Papers 17074, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Rösl, Gerhard & Seitz, Franz, 2024. "Uncertainty, politics, and crises: The case for cash," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 5(3).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dollarization; Panama; Exchange Regime;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions

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