Panama has been experiencing a rapid increase in urbanization, shifting from a predominantly rural populated country to an overwhelmingly urban one during the last 60 years, and this is due to a variety of causes. The main cause of this ever-growing trend in urbanization is Panama's skyrocketing population, which is largely due to a large and successful economy. The best news for Panama is that it even seems as if this population growth and increase in urbanization will be able to continue for years to come. Panama's economy has continued to grow, construction for residential and commercial sector has not slowed down for almost 6 years, and new jobs a being created with only a 5% unemployment rate in 2016.
Urban growth and development in Panama has lead to many pros and cons, which include the following:
- Compared to North American standards, living in Panama is fairly cheap. You would only pay workers about $20, and groceries are cheap -- under $1.50 for a dozen eggs and between $0.75 and $1. Property taxes are also low, and people are able to fins housing for a cheap and affordable price.
- Electricity costs more in Panama than it does in the US, and imported items will also be a bit more expensive.
- When people live in Panama, they have access to US-standard medical and dental care for a 50% - 70% cheaper price.
- However, if people have rare medical conditions, they may not be able to find the specialists they need.
- While not unheard of, crime is not a pressing matter in Panama, according to the locals.
- However, crimes of opportunities (like stealing a phone from a car seat) are more common than in the US.
- Compared to North American standards, living in Panama is fairly cheap. You would only pay workers about $20, and groceries are cheap -- under $1.50 for a dozen eggs and between $0.75 and $1. Property taxes are also low, and people are able to fins housing for a cheap and affordable price.
- Electricity costs more in Panama than it does in the US, and imported items will also be a bit more expensive.
- When people live in Panama, they have access to US-standard medical and dental care for a 50% - 70% cheaper price.
- However, if people have rare medical conditions, they may not be able to find the specialists they need.
- While not unheard of, crime is not a pressing matter in Panama, according to the locals.
- However, crimes of opportunities (like stealing a phone from a car seat) are more common than in the US.
Challenges of Urban Sustainability
Panama's water sector is currently facing various issues. Basic drinking water and sanitation services are lacking in Panama's non-urban areas, and only slightly more than half of Panama's population living in rural areas have access to these services. It has also been determined in a 2018 report that Panama will likely face water scarcity in the coming years due to the growth and mobility of the population, economic development, international trade, urbanization, industry and climate change. In addition to these pressing concerns, flooding events have become more and more common, and more and more devastating, over the past 2 years, and this trend will likely continue. Deforestation rates in Panama have also skyrocketed, and this deforestation is contributing to a decrease in the physical and chemical quality of the country's freshwater. And, to top is all off, the 2018 report published by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Panama noted that out of all Latin American countries, Panama is the country with the highest water consumption per capita. These issues all point towards sanitation of freshwater, and other actions that impact water quality, as being a major challenge to urban sustainability.
To combat this challenge to urban sustainability, the Panamanian government has put forth a 4 step plan: 1) Agreement on water, 2) Updating the regulations, 3) institutional strengthening, and 4) education and research on the sustainable use of water. The first step of this plan, according to the 2018 report, has the objective of resolving conflicts over the access to water. The second step will, as stated, update the regulations, as some of the past regulations have become obsolete in relation to the evolution of the country. The third step includes the strengthening of human resource capacities through improved training and working with higher quality equipment. The fourth and final step will include expanding education that is focused on training professionals in the field of water; this, in turn, should have a positive impact on the understanding and knowledge of the whole society.
To combat this challenge to urban sustainability, the Panamanian government has put forth a 4 step plan: 1) Agreement on water, 2) Updating the regulations, 3) institutional strengthening, and 4) education and research on the sustainable use of water. The first step of this plan, according to the 2018 report, has the objective of resolving conflicts over the access to water. The second step will, as stated, update the regulations, as some of the past regulations have become obsolete in relation to the evolution of the country. The third step includes the strengthening of human resource capacities through improved training and working with higher quality equipment. The fourth and final step will include expanding education that is focused on training professionals in the field of water; this, in turn, should have a positive impact on the understanding and knowledge of the whole society.