“ In his end-of-year speech to the plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, “We are going through a very difficult period. We are practically living day by day”, noting that "The people have many complaints,” which he described as “fair”.”
Cuba is having a really rough moment right now. The economy contracted in 2023. There wasn’t enough growth in 2024 and the hurricanes have been awful last year. I don’t think Cuba should be listed given their current situation.
But how would Cuba be doing without foreign interference? Trade embargos and global climate change don’t speak to the strength of their economic system at all.
Right, I understand that. I just don’t think it’s fair to pin the results of sixty years of deliberate sabotage on their chosen economic system. People are always quick to point out how these systems never work as if the capitalists haven’t done every single thing possible to keep it from working for them.
I mean they haven’t worked and the Labor Theory of Value is flat out incorrect to the point of ludicrousness but that doesn’t mean that all of Cuba’s failings are self created. They aren’t Venezuela whose problems are almost entirely self created.
The U.S. embargo doesn’t just stop trade with America, it also scares off foreign companies and banks that don’t want to risk U.S. penalties. This has led to them being overly reliant on Russia, China, and Venezuela. So while Cuba isn’t totally cut off, nor is it just fine.
“ In his end-of-year speech to the plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, “We are going through a very difficult period. We are practically living day by day”, noting that "The people have many complaints,” which he described as “fair”.”
https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2024/12/20/cuba-discusses-economic-planning-for-2025-after-a-really-difficult-year
Cuba is having a really rough moment right now. The economy contracted in 2023. There wasn’t enough growth in 2024 and the hurricanes have been awful last year. I don’t think Cuba should be listed given their current situation.
Laos and Vietnam are both currently strong.
Laos and Vietnam, like China, could also more accurately be described as having “state capitalist” economic systems
China has a stock market and investor class. They are an authoritarian capitalist state.
No argument here
But how would Cuba be doing without foreign interference? Trade embargos and global climate change don’t speak to the strength of their economic system at all.
Oh many of Cuba’s issues would disappear had the embargo been lifted but we are talking about the current reality and right now Cuba is hurting.
Right, I understand that. I just don’t think it’s fair to pin the results of sixty years of deliberate sabotage on their chosen economic system. People are always quick to point out how these systems never work as if the capitalists haven’t done every single thing possible to keep it from working for them.
I mean they haven’t worked and the Labor Theory of Value is flat out incorrect to the point of ludicrousness but that doesn’t mean that all of Cuba’s failings are self created. They aren’t Venezuela whose problems are almost entirely self created.
Aren’t their trade relations with the rest of the world outside the US just fine?
The U.S. embargo doesn’t just stop trade with America, it also scares off foreign companies and banks that don’t want to risk U.S. penalties. This has led to them being overly reliant on Russia, China, and Venezuela. So while Cuba isn’t totally cut off, nor is it just fine.