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Analyzing public management in Panama requires understanding the interaction between three fundamental concepts: government, governance, and governability. This study analyzed how these components are articulated within the Panamanian context to explain the State's capacity to design policies, coordinate actors, and maintain institutional stability. A qualitative document review methodology was employed, drawing on academic literature, institutional reports, and theoretical frameworks from Public Administration and Political Science. The results of the search revealed an approach that allowed for the identification of patterns, tensions, and progress in the country's governmental practices. The study demonstrated that the government constitutes the formal structure responsible for exercising authority, managing resources, and implementing public policies. Governance broadens the focus to include collaborative processes involving state, private, community, and multilateral actors, highlighting the importance of transparency, participation, and inter-institutional coordination. Governability, for its part, reflected the level of stability, legitimacy, and effectiveness with which the political system implements decisions and responds to social demands. The study concludes that Panama has made progress in administrative modernization and in mechanisms for citizen participation and oversight. However, challenges persist, such as institutional fragmentation, unequal management capacity, and the need to strengthen public trust. Understanding the relationship among government, governance, and governability allows us to envision pathways to improve state efficiency and effectiveness to consolidate long-term public policies.
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