The present invention provides a salicylic acid ester derivative having an impurity content lower than a specific level and expressed by the following formula (1) (in the formula, R1 is methyl group or ethyl group, R2, which may be substituted optionally, is an alkyl group having a carbon number of from 1 to 30, alkoxy group having a carbon number of from 1 to 30, aryl group having a carbon number of from 6 to 30, aryloxy group having a carbon number of from 6 to 30, aralkyl group having a carbon number of from 6 to 30 or aralkyloxy group having a carbon number of from 6 to 30). The salicylic acid ester derivative is effective as a terminal blocking agent or a polymerization. promoting agent for a polycarbonate, and gives a polycarbonate having good color tone and suitable for optical material use.