NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, March 21, 2016

All eyes are on Cuba as U.S. President Barack Obama and at least 20 members of Congress descend on Havana today. While members of the delegation differ on the best path forward for U.S.-Cuban relations, everyone hopes for economic development that improves the quality of life for the average Cuban. What are the next steps for development in Cuba? And, how can the international community help Cuba preserve the educational and health gains of the Cuban revolution, while also updating its failing economic model?

Today, with no external patrons to buoy its socialist system, Cuba is being forced to reform its economic model on its own. Important steps have been taken since Cuban leaders approved landmark economic reforms in April 2011. But challenges remain, and reforms are incomplete. As Cuba continues to work toward a more open, hybrid economic model, its social gains will come under stress, and development programs and external investment will be needed more than ever. But before sustainable development can take root, Cuba needs a modern, functioning financial system.

Despite high expectations for quick change after Obama restored diplomatic relations in 2014, the majority of Cubans still do not make a living wage. The average monthly salary in Cuba is roughly $25, and about three-quarters of Cuba’s workforce is employed by the state. To make ends meet, Cubans rely on remittances, which account for approximately 70-80 percent of capital invested in businesses, and disproportionately favor those with connections to the national diaspora. The solution is not to make remittances more equitable, but to unleash the power of finance and make dependence on remittances unnecessary.

Since taking power in 2007, President Raúl Castro has created a space for small and medium-sized private enterprises, or “cuentapropistas” as they are known in Cuba. About 9 percent of Cubans are self-employed, but these ambitious Cubans lack access to the resources and training necessary for continued growth and prosperity. This is an area where Cuba and the international community can work together.