COMPETITIVENESS OF PANAMA IN THE PERIOD 2013-2018 FOR THE ATTRACTION OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the performance of Panama's competitiveness in 2013-2018 and the influence it could have on attracting foreign direct investment. This study assumes as a theoretical basis the Global Competitiveness Index Report, prepared by the World Economic Forum for the years 2013-2018 and whose objective is to publicize the main factors that affect the competitiveness of more than 130 countries evaluated so that they can adopt measures that allow these economies to be more productive and raise their levels of well-being for the population. The method used was the type of documentary research, bibliographic design, and historical level, starting from the content analysis; the techniques used were the filing, and the summary and the data collection instrument was the content sheets. As a first result, it is cited that the competitive factors that foreign and national investors evaluate when deciding in which country they will invest are: macroeconomic stability, trained labor, business sophistication, infrastructure, and available technology, and these directly influence decision-making. Therefore, the main conclusion that this research offers is to recognize the importance and the need to participate more efficiently and productively in the globalized and changing world in which we live today; where consumers are increasingly demanding and where the only opportunity to achieve highly competitive rates is with the implementation of new innovative strategies and with the use of technological trends, which allow us to provide significant value and have a more active and thriving in the international market.