The objective of this essay is broadly to assess the factors that determine whether the production of biofuels from biomass could be viable in Cuba and whether it could compete with food production. This question is important in view of the significant decreases that have occurred in Cuba’s agricultural and food production during the past […]

Notes1 The first section of the paper discusses the importance of infrastructure. It concludes that adequate infrastructure is necessary for economic growth and that it can contribute to reduction in inequality. The second section of the paper summarizes the lessons learned from infrastructure reform in Latin America and in the “transition” economies of Eastern Europe […]

Notes1 “Cada vez hay más señales de que el cambio económico se impone; y de que el Gobierno de Raúl Castro es práctico y realista, aunque haya factores e inercias que condicionen los ritmos. Se trata de una cuestión de subsistencia.” —Mauricio Vicent, “Cuba toca fondo,” El País, España, 4/07/2007 “ habrá que introducir los […]

Notes1 In this paper we draw out the implications of a nascent literature on the unbundling of institutions for Cuba’s possible transitions, and more specifically for the different economic agents that are likely to participate in the potential transitions that can take place in Cuba. One point of departure for this paper is the general […]

Notes1 Cuba’s productive capabilities continue to deteriorate, its leadership ages and sickens, and the political regime’s human rights abuses continue to mount. On August 1, 2006, Fidel Castro temporarily ceded power to his brother Raúl, Cuba’s defense minister and head of the Cuban military, known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). The transfer of power […]