Title: Entrepreneurship in post-Soviet Cuba: self-employed workers and non-agricultural cooperatives

Authors: Mario A. González-Corzo

Addresses: Department of Economics and Business, Lehman College, The City University of New York (CUNY), Carman Hall, 377, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468, USA

Abstract: The expansion of entrepreneurial activities is one of the pillars of Cuba's strategy to adopt a less paternalistic, economic model in which the non-state sector is expected to play a larger role. Primarily driven by economic reforms and a desire for greater autonomy from the state, Cuba's self-employed workers and non-agricultural cooperatives have increased significantly since 2010. This has unleashed an unprecedented level of entrepreneurial activities in one of the last bastions of communism in the Western Hemisphere. However, Cuba's self-employed workers and non-agricultural cooperatives face a wide range of institutional and economic barriers that limit their economic contributions and potential for growth. Eliminating these barriers, and drastic changes in state policies towards the emerging non-state sector, are essential requirements for the development and expansion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and for improving the living standards of the Cuban people.

Keywords: Cuba; Cuban economy; economic reforms; entrepreneurship; non-agricultural cooperatives; self-employment; transition economies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2020.109932

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2020 Vol.41 No.2, pp.197 - 226

Received: 09 Mar 2018
Accepted: 21 Aug 2018
Published online: 30 Sep 2020 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article