Culture cannot be removed from economic progress because it has an impact on a country’s economy, as an opportunity for development and diversification, or production being vital for many countries, especially developing ones, not only in terms of growth but in job creation too. In Cuba, the debate regarding culture’s contribution to development is not new, and the economics of culture has been studied by academia. However, the inclusion of the concepts of creative economy and cultural and creative industries in programmatic documents is more recent, and the role of private economic actors is not yet adequately recognised in this sector. The article shows the results of research developed in four Cuban cities, in which the cultural resources existing, the actors, and the way the ecosystem is structured were diagnosed, so as to identify both internal and external possibilities and limitations for the development of the cultural and creative industries sector. The article ends with a proposal of principles to promote cultural entrepreneurship in Cuba that ensure the policy’s transversality and sustainability, and that they should derive from a broader national policy for the development of the creative economy.
This special issue examines Cuba’s private sector amid deepening crisis, institutional uncertainty, and rapid policy change. Despite severe constraints, the sector has become a central component of the country’s economy. The articles in this issue focus on structural questions, including its trajectory, functions, linkages, and place within the Cuban model. Together, they show that the key issue is not only the expansion of private activity, but the kind of private sector now emerging in Cuba and its implications for the country’s future.
This article analyses the development of the private sector in Cuba, focusing on micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and self-employment (TCP), from their legal recognition to recent restrictions. It examines three cross-cutting policies: complementarity, equal conditions, and regulation of property concentration, all present in the Constitution and the Conceptualization of the Economic and Social Model. Although the legal framework promotes coexistence between state and private ownership, measures adopted since 2022 reflect a perspective that blames the private sector for inflation and economic disorder. The article details regulatory reforms, operational obstacles, and the decline in MSME approvals. It concludes that these policies have been misinterpreted and misapplied, limiting the growth of the private sector and hindering its contribution to national development. A comprehensive reform is proposed to foster coordination among actors, encourage investment, and ensure equitable conditions for all.
