The Recent Transformations in the Cuban Economy

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/intejcubastud.5.2.0102
• Pages: 102-116
• Published date: 01 October 2013
• Date: 01 October 2013
• Author: Dr José Luís Rodríguez
• Subject Matter: Guidelines,economy,socialism,development

I J  C S 5.2 S 2013

ACADEMIC ARTICLES

THE RECENT TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE

CUBAN ECONOMY

Dr José Luís Rodríguez

Adviser: Centre for the Study of the World Economy, Havana

Abstract

This article traces the origins and reasons for the ‘Lineamientos de la Política Económica y

Social del Partido y la Revolución’ (Guidelines for Economic and Social Policy of the Party

and the Revolution) adopted by the sixth Communist Party of Cuba Congress held in April

2011. It explains how this broad economic plan envisages a transformation of the Cuban

economy utilising market mechanisms that are aimed at preserving socialism, in contrast

to the former socialist countries where the reforms that were undertaken changed the

system, rather than adapting it. The article uses economic data to discuss the progress made

in the adoption of the principles contained in the Guidelines, analyses the problems that

remain to be solved and offers some predictions as to the course of future developments.

It concludes that the new reforms will allow Cuba to move gradually towards a sustainable

socialist society without abandoning the principles of solidarity that characterise it, and

which will compare favourably to the alternative that neoliberalism offers today.

Keywords: Guidelines, economy, socialism, development

Introduction

The adoption of a new economic policy, as contained in the 2011 ‘Lineamientos

de la Política Económica y Social del Partido y la Revolución’ (Guidelines for

Economic and Social Policy of the Party and the Revolution), has initiated a

period of profound change in the Cuban economy (PCC 2011). This strategy

represents a contemporary response, based on the accumulated experience

derived from Cuba’s socialist model, f‌irst adopted in 1961, to fundamental

problems facing the development of the country. This is in contrast to the former

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