Cuba en la era de Raul Castro. Reformas economico sociales y sus efectos (Spanish Edition)
Book Details
Author(s)Carmelo Mesa Lago
PublisherEditorial Colibri
ISBN / ASIN8493943622
ISBN-139788493943622
AvailabilityUsually ships in 24 hours
Sales Rank1,152,359
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
PARA LEER EN ESPANOL INFORMACION SOBRE ESTE LIBRO ir a seccion "From the Author."
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This new book on Cuba by Carmelo Mesa-Lago, is a thorough analysis of the economic and social welfare situation in Cuba under the leadership of Raul Castro since he received power from his brother Fidel in 2006 as well as of the structural reforms implemented by him since 2008. The first chapter is a historical summary of 8 cycles during the Revolution (1959-2012): idealist or against the market and pragmatist or towards the market. The latest cycle, under Raul' government, is the strongest pragmatist cycle since he announced the "structural reforms" in mid-2007. The following three chapters analyze with plenty of statistics and information, the internal economy, international economic relations and social welfare. This is the most comprehensive study available on these three important areas in 2006-2012 and constitutes a book by itself. It is concluded that Cuba's economic-social problems--largely caused by excessive centralization and state ownership of all means of production, lack of incentives and the zig-zag policy cycles--forced Raul Castro's structural reforms.The two core chapters of the book, first describe some 20 reforms, their approval by the VI Communist Party Congress in 2011, and the subsequent implementation of the most important changes: usufruct of state idle land, dismissal of more than 1 million unneeded workers in the state sector, expansion of self-employment to give occupation to those dismissed, creation of non-agricultural and service cooperatives with a similar goal, selling and buying of homes banned since 1960, reform of agricultural cooperatives to make them more autonomous and efficient. The final chapter evaluates the effects of the reforms based on Cuban statistics and other information. It is concluded that the reforms are positive and the most profound under the Revolution but are obstructed by too much control and regulation, excessive taxes and lack of enough incentives therefore a deepening and acceleration of the reforms is needed. The book ends with a series of concrete suggestions on how to improve the reforms and hence the economy and the living standards of the people.
"Excellent book! The first in-depth study of the reforms being undertaken in Cuba. Rigorously worked, lucidly structured, timely, challenging and balanced, it helps us to transform our understanding of the Cuban reality. It should be required reading for all those committed to the task of creating a better future for Cuba" (Pedro Monreal, Cuban economist, Program Specialist for the Social Sciences, UNESCO, Paris).
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"This book is serious, profound, conscious and realistic, despite being controversial and in some parts differing from my positions. Follows the Cuban economy for more than 50 years, focusing in the last six, with wisdom, and offers conclusions that lead us to reflection of our reality. Its reading is indispensable" (Omar Everleny Perez Villanueva, Director of the Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy, University of Havana
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This new book on Cuba by Carmelo Mesa-Lago, is a thorough analysis of the economic and social welfare situation in Cuba under the leadership of Raul Castro since he received power from his brother Fidel in 2006 as well as of the structural reforms implemented by him since 2008. The first chapter is a historical summary of 8 cycles during the Revolution (1959-2012): idealist or against the market and pragmatist or towards the market. The latest cycle, under Raul' government, is the strongest pragmatist cycle since he announced the "structural reforms" in mid-2007. The following three chapters analyze with plenty of statistics and information, the internal economy, international economic relations and social welfare. This is the most comprehensive study available on these three important areas in 2006-2012 and constitutes a book by itself. It is concluded that Cuba's economic-social problems--largely caused by excessive centralization and state ownership of all means of production, lack of incentives and the zig-zag policy cycles--forced Raul Castro's structural reforms.The two core chapters of the book, first describe some 20 reforms, their approval by the VI Communist Party Congress in 2011, and the subsequent implementation of the most important changes: usufruct of state idle land, dismissal of more than 1 million unneeded workers in the state sector, expansion of self-employment to give occupation to those dismissed, creation of non-agricultural and service cooperatives with a similar goal, selling and buying of homes banned since 1960, reform of agricultural cooperatives to make them more autonomous and efficient. The final chapter evaluates the effects of the reforms based on Cuban statistics and other information. It is concluded that the reforms are positive and the most profound under the Revolution but are obstructed by too much control and regulation, excessive taxes and lack of enough incentives therefore a deepening and acceleration of the reforms is needed. The book ends with a series of concrete suggestions on how to improve the reforms and hence the economy and the living standards of the people.
"Excellent book! The first in-depth study of the reforms being undertaken in Cuba. Rigorously worked, lucidly structured, timely, challenging and balanced, it helps us to transform our understanding of the Cuban reality. It should be required reading for all those committed to the task of creating a better future for Cuba" (Pedro Monreal, Cuban economist, Program Specialist for the Social Sciences, UNESCO, Paris).
Â
"This book is serious, profound, conscious and realistic, despite being controversial and in some parts differing from my positions. Follows the Cuban economy for more than 50 years, focusing in the last six, with wisdom, and offers conclusions that lead us to reflection of our reality. Its reading is indispensable" (Omar Everleny Perez Villanueva, Director of the Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy, University of Havana
