According to some the government is NOT responsible for the economic growth

The two brief articles below appeared in todays paper. They are obviously by the opposition party but they have a ring of truth. I would agree that the government has done little to help in the promotion of the country in our industry of residential tourism which is driving the construction boom. In fact they have implemented new laws and changes in old laws to the investors and foreign residents detriment. It is always the way of government to take credit for the good times as it is certain they will be blamed when things go bad. I wonder just how much growth we would have if the government really worked to boost economic activity through foreign direct investment of this kind?

Government is not responsible for economic growth

The sectorial leadership of Cambio Democratico (CD), rejected yesterday that the growing cycle of the economy and the "real estate boom" are the result of the economic policy that the national government of the PRD-PP executes.

The president of the Supervise Committee of Cambio Democratico, Frank De Lima, indicated that this financial boom is the exclusive result of the dynamics of the private sector and the solidity of the banking center. To criterion of the opponent, the recent reforms by the government in the matter of tourist visa issue could change the rate of growth of the construction sector and the arrival of new investors to the country. (La Critica)

De Lima: Government policies harm the national economy

President of the Supervise Committee of Cambio Democatrico (CD), Frank De Lima, noticed that the governmental policy is harming the economic growth. "To three years of government, the alleged accomplishments in economic matter are merely conjectural, because global economic comes from a cycle of high growth and the real estate boom that the country is going through is due to the dynamics of the private sector and to the solidity of our banking center". (Estrella de Panama)