The elimination or reduction of the excessive bureaucratic regulations that restricted private economic activities under the classical socialist model is one of the principal forces behind the expansion of the non-State (or private) sector under market (or “reform”) socialism (Kornai, 1992; Szelényi, 1988). During this stage of the transition process, a growing share of the […]
Self-Employment in Cuba since the VI Party Congress
The reduction of State sector payrolls and the expansion of employment in the emerging non-State sector has been one of the principal policy measures implemented by the Cuban government to transform the country’s socialist economic model. The end of central planning and excessive paternalism in labor practices was officially announced in 2010, when Cuban authorities […]
Estonia’s Post-Soviet Agricultural Reforms: Lessons for Cuba
Agricultural reforms are at the forefront of Cuba’s efforts to “update” its economic model (“actualización del modelo económico”). However, despite the gradual implementation of calibrated agricultural reforms since 2007, Cuba’s agricultural model remains primarily centralized. According to the “Guidelines” (“Lineamientos de la Política Económica y Social del Partido y la Revolucion”) ratified in April 2011, […]
Update on Cuba’s Non-Sugar Agricultural Sector
In its recent efforts to transform (or “update”) its economic model, Cuba has understandably focused on its agricultural sector. Even though it only accounts for approximately 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), agriculture represents a relatively large share of the Cuban economy (some 20%) due to its direct linkages with other sectors and multiplier effect […]
Cuba: ¿hacia otro “Periodo Especial”?
Todo parece indicar que en la actualidad Cuba va rumbo a otro “periodo especial” si es que aceptamos la tesis—propuesta por algunas fuentes oficiales apenas antes que comenzara la crisis financiera mundial que se desató después del colapso de la famosa firma de Wall Street, Lehman Brothers en septiembre de 2008 en Estados Unidos—que ya […]