ASCE

An Update of Cuba’s Balance of Payments[1] Ernesto Hernández-Catá   Cuba’s balance of payments has been subject to very long publication delays. In its latest annual report, Cuba’s National Office of Statistics and Information provided figures on current account transactions only through 2012;[2] and data for capital movements have not published for ages. The table […]

The Cuban National Statistical Office (ONEI) has recently released data for the fiscal position of the general government, which includes the central, provincial and municipal governments but not the state enterprises. Developments in 2014 Developments in 2014 suggest a moderate relaxation of fiscal policy albeit still within the basic framework of fiscal restraint in place […]

Cuba is avoiding severe economic damage from the economic turmoil in its close ally Venezuela.  Officials report an increase in annualized real GDP of 4.7% in the first half of 2015 after meager expansion of 1.3% in the previous year.[1]  The expansion is broadly based across productive sectors particularly industry,  agriculture and commerce.  This at […]

There are two kinds of people in any population: those who detest fiscal statistics; and those who are fascinated by them. This note is exclusively addressed to people of the second kind. Every time you look at a new release of budget numbers by the Cuba’s National Statistical Office (Oficina Nacional de Estadística e Información) […]

It is hardly a secret that the economy of Cuba is in a sorry state.  Visits to Cuba provide testimony as to widespread poverty, food and housing shortages and the marked decay of buildings, infrastructure and machinery.  Official GDP per capita of $6800 for 2013 places Cuba below the $8700 average of the 12 Latin […]