Entrepreneurial Cuba (Hardback)

During the presidency of Raúl Castro, Cuba has dramatically reformed its policies toward small private enterprises. Archibald Ritter and Ted Henken consider why—and to what effect.

After reviewing the evolution of policy since 1959, the authors contrast the approaches of Fidel and Raúl Castro and explore in depth the responses of Cuban entrepreneurs to the new environment. Their work, rich in ethnographic research and extensive interviews, provides a revealing analysis of Cuba's fledgling private sector.

CONTENTS:  Cuba's Changing Policy Landscape.The Small-Enterprise Sector.Revolutionary Trajectories and Strategic Shifts, 1959–1990.The "Special Period," 1990–2006.Policy Reform Under Raúl Castro, 2006–2014.The Movement Toward Non-Agricultural Cooperatives.The Underground Economy.The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of the Paladar, 1993–2013.The Future of Small Enterprise in Cuba.Appendix 1: Timeline of Small Enterprise Under the Revolution.Appendix 2: 201 Legalized Self-Employment Occupations.