Clearly, despite the fact that the canal was built in Panama, the country did not gain much from the time period in its economy. The project cost 4.8 million dollars (plus 6% interest) and was entirely funded by Panamanians, despite the fact that it was the initiative of the United States. During construction, many workers lost their lives. Although this number is little compared to other projects at the time, it still represents a large proportion of the population. At the end of the day, only 12 people were responsible for building this important piece of infrastructure which allowed ships to travel faster between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They received plenty of money but they spent it all on luxury goods and didn't save any money for themselves or the country. In addition to being expensive, the canal also caused environmental damage. By cutting off land connections between the oceans, it made it easier for sea water to enter local rivers, causing ecological problems for locals who depended on these waterways for fishing and irrigation. Finally, the canal benefited foreign companies more than anything else. American and European businesses gained from the presence of so many shipping lanes in one place, but Panamanian businesses ended up with fewer customers since most ships used the canal instead of traveling around South America. In conclusion, the Panama Canal was a huge investment for the United States but it wasn't very beneficial for Panama.