Older Persons and the Cuban Reform Process

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/intejcubastud.6.1.0009
• Pages: 9-24
• Published date: 01 April 2014
• Date: 01 April 2014
• Author: David L. Strug
• Subject Matter: Cuba,qualitative research,older persons,structural reform,social benefits,socialism

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ACADEMIC ARTICLES

OLDER PERSONS AND THE CUBAN REFORM

PROCESS

David L. Strug

Yeshiva University, USA

Abstract

Cubans are living longer, which combined with a low birth rate, has reduced the proportion

of the population in the work force. This adversely affects the economy, which is one

reason government has introduced major structural reforms. This article presents data

from a qualitative study of 35 older persons (60+ years of age) who were asked about the

reform process and its impact on their lives. This process has important implications for

the fast growing older population many of whom are disproportionately affected by the

hardships of life, receive pensions on which they cannot live, reside in overcrowded homes,

and suffer shortages in food and transport. Most respondents reported they support the

reforms, even though they involve a reduction of social benef‌its (e.g., food subsidies).

Policy makers should consider older persons’ views about the reforms, because a reduction

of benef‌its might make it more diff‌icult for many older persons’ to meet basic needs.

Keywords: Cuba, qualitative research, older persons, structural reform, social benef‌its,

socialism

Introduction

Cubans are living longer, which, combined with a low birth rate, has reduced

the proportion of the population in the workforce. This adversely affects the

economy, which is one reason government has introduced major structural

reforms that are transforming the economic life of the country (Sánchez Egozcue

2012). The reforms involve a mixed economy, a reconf‌iguration of the social

contract, a gradual reduction of massive social benef‌its based on subsidies and

a movement away from excessive paternalism, idealism and egalitarianism by

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10 ACADEMIC ARTICLE  DAVID L. STRUG

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means of off‌icial guidelines (Draft Economic and Social Policy Guidelines for the

Party and the Revolution 2010).

This article presents data from a qualitative study of 35 older Cubans (persons

60+ years of age) who were asked their views about the reform process and its

impact on their lives. This process has important implications for the country’s

fast growing and vulnerable older population many of whom are disproportion-

ately affected by the hardships of life, receive pensions on which they cannot live,

reside in overcrowded homes and suffer shortages in food and transport (Strug

2009). Older persons receive social protection in the form of food subsidies,

health-care and social assistance.

The question of how older persons view the reform process emerged from a

qualitative study I conducted in January 2012 and January 2013 with 35 older

individuals in Havana. This article presents data from that investigation. The

study questions were the following: (1) How do older persons view the reforms?

and (2) What impact, if any, are they having on their lives? I wondered whether

older persons might be opposed to the reform process, because it involves a

reduction in social benef‌its and has raised the retirement age. The Appendix

discusses the methods used in this investigation, the study sample and the need

for future research.

Background

Economic problems and the reform process

Cuba’s economic problems and the attempt by its leaders to address them have

received widespread attention (Chase 2011; Mesa-Lago and Vidal-Alejandro

2010; Pujol 2011). These problems include a deteriorating trade imbalance

and foreign debt, low productivity and stagnation in growth of the population,

ref‌lected in the growing ageing sector (Farber 2011).

Cuba’s leaders state they can no longer sustain the high costs for some of

the expensive services it gives to the overall population, including health-care

and social services. They have reduced somewhat the share of social services in

total expenditures. According to one expert on the Cuban economy, Carmelo

Mesa-Lago, social expenditures as a percentage of the state budget fell from

55.3 per cent to 53.1 per cent between 2007 and 2010, and as a percentage of GDP

they peaked at 36.4 per cent in 2009 and fell to 34 per cent in 2010 (Mesa-Lago

and Pérez-López 2013: 140). The reform process involves a reconf‌iguration of

the social contract to reduce these expenditures (Sánchez Egozcue 2012).

The Communist Party of Cuba drafted economic and policy guidelines that

call for a gradual elimination of the ration book or libreta that Cubans use (Draft

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