Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
CUBA Economic Freedom Score 25 World Rank: 177 Regional Rank: 29 Least free 0 economy remains repressed by the systemic inefCtic uba’s ficiency and institutional shortcomings characterisof a Communist regime. Dominated by state-owned 50 75 Most 100 free 29.8 Freedom Trend 31 companies connected to the military and political elite, the economy continues to suffer from a lack of dynamism aggravated by cronyism, corruption, and bureaucracy. Non-state sectors have gradually expanded, but the absence of genuine political will for reform leaves business struggling within a poor regulatory framework. ECONOMIC FREEDOM SNAPSHOT • 2016 Economic Freedom Score: 29.8 (up 0.2 point) • Economic Freedom Status: Repressed • Global Ranking: 177th • Regional Ranking: 29th in the South and Central America/ Caribbean Region • Notable Successes: None • Concerns: Rule of Law, Labor Freedom, and Financial Freedom • Overall Score Change Since 2012: +1.5 Much-touted “free-market reforms” have largely involved only cosmetic changes. The rule of law remains subject to political influence and the overriding interests of the Communist Party. The judiciary’s autonomy is severely impeded by the centralization of power in the one-party state. BACKGROUND: Fidel Castro’s 84-year-old brother Raúl leads both the government and the Cuban Communist Party. Violent repression of civil society and dissidents has increased dramatically in the past year. Restrictions on foreign travel have been eased, but certain Cubans are still barred from leaving. Cuba depends on external assistance such as remittances from Cuban émigrés and oil subsidies provided by Venezuela for the foreign exchange it needs to survive. With world oil prices dropping and instability in Venezuela increasing, Cuba is hoping for new revenue from liberalized U.S. rules governing American travel to the island. Workers’ wages are not enough to live on, the agriculture sector is starved for investment, and tourism revenue is volatile. How Do We Measure Economic Freedom? See page 467 for an explanation of the methodology or visit the Index Web site at heritage.org/index. 30 29 28 27 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Country Comparisons 29.8 Country World Average 60.7 Regional Average 59.8 Free Economies 83.9 0 20 40 60 80 100 Quick Facts Population: 11.2 million GDP (PPP): $134.3 billion 1.3% growth in 2014 5-year compound annual growth 2.5% $11,950 per capita Unemployment: n/a Inflation (CPI): 5.3% FDI Inflow: n/a Public Debt: 32.1% of GDP 2014 data unless otherwise noted. Data compiled as of September 2015. 171 CUBA (continued) THE TEN ECONOMIC FREEDOMS Score RULE OF LAW Property Rights Freedom from Corruption Country World Average 10.0 46.0 0 20 40 60 80 Rank 1–Year Change 164th 65th 0 0 100 Corruption remains a serious problem, with widespread illegality permeating the limited private enterprises and the vast state-controlled economy. Freedom of movement is restricted. Only state enterprises may enter into economic agreements with foreigners as minority partners; ordinary citizens cannot participate. Most means of production are owned by the state. The Council of State completely controls the courts and the judiciary. Fiscal Freedom 52.1 GOVERNMENT 0.0 Government Spending SIZE 174th 174th 0 20 40 60 80 –9.7 0 100 Cuba’s top income tax rate is 50 percent. The top corporate tax rate is 30 percent (35 percent for companies with entirely foreign capital). Other taxes include a tax on property transfers and a sales tax. Taxation is not administered effectively. Overall tax revenue is estimated to equal about 37.3 percent of GDP. Inefficient public-sector spending remains high at over 60 percent of total domestic output. REGULATORY EFFICIENCY Business Freedom Labor Freedom Monetary Freedom 20.0 20.0 65.2 183rd 182nd 169th 0 20 40 60 80 0 0 +0.4 100 Regulatory efficiency remains poor, and private entrepreneurship is limited. The application of regulations is inconsistent and non-transparent. State control of the labor market has spurred creation of a large informal sector. The government still administers most prices and will face inflationary pressures as it proceeds with a plan to eliminate its dual currency system that has long been a source of economic distortions. OPEN MARKETS Trade Freedom Investment Freedom Financial Freedom 64.6 10.0 10.0 153rd 172nd 174th 0 20 40 60 80 +0.8 +10.0 0 100 Cuba’s average tariff rate is 7.7 percent. The country’s centrally planned economy is a significant barrier to the free flow of international trade and investment. The financial sector remains heavily regulated and controlled by the state. Access to credit for entrepreneurial activity is uneven and further impeded by the shallowness of the financial market. The state maintains strict capital and exchange controls. Long-Term Score Change (since 1995) RULE OF LAW Property Rights Freedom from Corruption 172 0 +36.0 GOVERNMENT SIZE Fiscal Freedom Government Spending +4.5 0 REGULATORY EFFICIENCY Business Freedom –20.0 Labor Freedom 0 Monetary Freedom +2.3 2016 Index of Economic Freedom OPEN MARKETS Trade Freedom Investment Freedom Financial Freedom +4.6 0 0