Opportunities and challenges of investing in emerging markets : a case study of Panama

Abstract

Many Real Estate investment firms are looking to the world's emerging economies in their real estate investment strategies to seek optimal returns in opaque or inefficient markets. Although these investments carry increased political, regulatory and currency risk, cross-border real estate investment has been on the rise. This thesis will broadly explore the nature of investment in emerging markets and survey risks associated with deploying capital in these markets, from the perspective of a foreign investor In order to assess explicit real estate opportunities and address the issues relevant to investors pursuing them, the scope of research was narrowed to focus on one Latin American country that has compelling opportunity for real estate investment: Panama. In recent years, this emerging market has seen extraordinary growth and expansion of its real estate sector, driven by domestic and international consumption related to trade, tourism, and the upcoming expansion of the Panama Canal. This paper will explore the real estate markets driven by these trends, analyze the specific risks associated with investment in these markets, and offer practical considerations for how the real estate "game" is played in Panama.