I concur with Luis on the basic premise that privatization is an essential ingredient of a broad-based package of liberalization measures. Although costly and potentially disrupting in the short term, it must be done relatively fast and in parallel with the development of measures that provide the necessary infrastructure for the efficient function of a […]

Felipe Pazos has expressed the view that in the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy, a policy of gradualism seems to be optimum. Hernandez-Cata differs from Pazos on this issue, proposing a more frontal and radical approach. I would argue that it will not be easy to sell such an approach to […]

Presenters dealt with agricultural conditions and problems which are new Cuban Government would face in the future. Some approaches were discussed to address these problems. Foremost issue will be the role of the sugar sector. Major conclusion was that it will remain critical to Cuban economic well being. Given market conditions, continuous access to Soviet […]

Dr. Betancourt’s paper reviews the literature of institutional economics and discusses its relevance for analyzing the type of structural changes that are likely to occur in Cuba in the future in the post-Castro period. His discussion of the work on transaction costs, property rights, and public choice is an invitation to do research in these […]

The papers by Espino and Perez-Lopez are informative useful works which provide a basis for start exploring the policy prospects for tourism and energy in a post-Castro Cuba. While I don’t have fundamental disagreements on the thrust of both works, I would have liked the authors to go further and address policy implications for a […]