Knowledgeable about Mexico and Cuba, Jorge Dominguez recently retired from his position as professor emeritus at Harvard University and focuses on regional as well as internal political issues. In his edited work The Cuban Economy in a New Era: An Agenda for Change Toward Durable Development, Jorge Dominguez brings to light persistent, systemic shortcomings that impact the nation's ability to build a new, market-based economy.
With Cuba extremely close to another island nation, the Dominican Republic, an example has been taken from its neighbor, which has successfully set up special economic zones (SEZ) with the intent of encouraging trade and investment. With Cuba having implemented its own limited version of the SEZ, these zones have failed to attract comparable levels of investment. One issue is that the Cuban leadership is "fearful of its own success." In setting up a free zone in Mariel Harbor in 2013, the government partnered with a Brazilian construction firm known for its corruption and opened to international commerce. Unfortunately, a "bewildering array" of regulations was quickly implemented that made operating within the free zone extremely challenging. With some 43 companies authorized, only 17 actually operate in free zone activities, that is, an average of only three starting to work per year. In addition, there are hundreds of companies that initially tendered applications or expressed interest in operating in the port, but that have been effectively locked out or are still waiting for authorization.
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AuthorJorge Dominguez - Doctor of Political Science. Archives
November 2021
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