NOTE: Most required readings will either be provided to you in class or can be downloaded (most in pdf format). Some readings are to be read in preparation for lectures, others as background for the threaded discussions. You will find a wide variety of viewpoints represented, especially in the discussion readings.
 

Readings for lectures:

Baker, Christopher P., Moon Handbooks: Cuba (3nd. ed.), 2004. 

Bornstein, Morris, "The Comparison of Economic Systems" in Morris Bornstein (ed.) Comparative Economic Systems: Models and Cases, 6th ed. Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1989.

Maybarduk, Gary H., "The State of the Cuban Economy 1998-1999," in Cuba in Transition: Volume 9, Papers and Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE), Miami, Florida, August 2-4, 1999.

Mesa-Lago, Carmelo, The Economy of Socialist Cuba: A Two-Decade Appraisal. University of New Mexico Press, 1981, pp. 7-36.

Mesa-Lago, Carmelo, "The Cuban Economy in 1997-98: Performance and Policies,"Cuba in Transition: Volume 8, Papers and Proceedings of the Eight Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE), Miami, Florida, August 6-8, 1998. 

Mesa-Lago, Carmelo, Market, Socialist, and Mixed Economies: Comparative Policy and Performance -- Chile, Cuba, and Costa Rica. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
    pp. 199-200.
    pp. 264-288.
    pp. 289-339.

Mesa-Lago, Carmelo, The Cuban Economy in 1999-2001: Evaluation of Performance and Debate on the Future," in Cuba in Transition: Volume 11, Papers and Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE), Miami, Florida, August 2-4, 2001.

Neuberger, Egon, "Classifying Economic Systems," in Morris Bornstein (ed.) Comparative Economic Systems: Models and Cases, 6th ed. Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1989.

Nuccio, Richard A., "Cuba: The Current Situation," Cuba in Transition: Volume 9, Papers and Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE), Miami, Florida, August 12-14, 1999. [Just click to download]

Pérez-López, Jorge and Matias Travieso-Díaz (editors), Perspectives on Cuban Economic Reforms. Center for Latin-American Studies Press, 1998.
    pp. 3-54.
    pp. 55-103.

Purcell, Susan Kaufman, and David Rothkopf (eds), Cuba: The Contours of Change, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2000. Chapters 1-4.

Travieso-Diaz, Matias, "Cuba: A Change in the Wind?" Manuscript, 2000.

Trumbull, Charles, "Economic Reforms and Social Contradictions in Cuba." Cuba in Transition: Volume 10, Papers and Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE), Miami, Florida, August, 2000.

Travieso-Diaz, Matias, and Charles Trumbull, "Foreign Investment in Cuba: Prospects and Perils," Cuba in Transition: Volume 12, Papers and Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE), Miami, Florida, August, 2002. Forthcoming in George Washington International Law Review.
 

Readings for Discussions:

Cason, James, Presentation to the Cuban Transition Project at the University of Miami, April 7, 2003.

Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) handout, "The Delinquent Dictator: Why Trading and Investing in Cuba is a Losing Proposition," 2001.

Hays, Dennis K., "Sanctions as a Tool of Foreign Policy," Speech at USBIC Conference, March 23, 2001.

Jorge, Antonio and Raul Moncarz, "Causes and Results of the U.S. Embargo and the Failure of the Cuban Economy." Presented meetings of the Allied Social Science Associations, New Orleans, January 5-7, 2001.

Landau, Anya K., and Wayne S. Smith, "Keeping Things in Perspective: Cuba and the Question of
International Terrorism," Center for International Policy, 2001.

Maybarduk, Gary H., "The Post Fidel Transition: Mitigating the Inevitable Disaster,"Cuba in Transition: Volume 11, Papers and Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE), Miami, Florida, August, 2001.

Mowbray, Joel, "Cuba Is Different: Why the China Argument Doesn't Hold." National Review Online, May 24, 2002. 

Newman, Lucia, "Cuba's Climate of Paranoia," CNN.com, May 8, 2003.

Peters, Philip, "A Policy toward Cuba That Serves U.S. Interests," Policy Analysis (November 2, 2000), Cato Institute.

Purcell, Susan Kaufman, and David Rothkopf (eds), Cuba: The Contours of Change, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2000. Chapters 5-7.

Readings for Fun: 

Articles on Cuba in the June, 1999 issues of National Geographic and Cigar Aficionado and the June, 2001 issue of Cigar Aficionado.

One exam, a Web-based threaded discussion, a daily journal written in Cuba, a team Web project, and a research paper. Note special requirements for International Studies majors enrolled in INTS 488: International Studies Capstone Experie 

Although the name of the course is the Economics of Cuba, we will study the geography and politics of Cuba, as well. In addition, you will be taking Professor Joe Super's HIST 242 (Latin America: Reform and Revolution) in which you will learn much about the principle historical problems and themes necessary to explain modern Cuban society. Finally, you will view documentaries and movies on Cuba. Thus, you can expect a highly integrative learning experience in which you will study Cuba from several disciplinary perspectives, you will learn the material from the perspectives of both American and Cuban scholars, and you will experience the Cuban situation for yourself when we take our field trip there in March.

Lectures:
My own lectures on the economics of Cuba will begin with an introduction to comparative economic systems. We will study three economic systems: capitalism, planned socialism, and market socialism. Cuba is a planned socialist economy, although it has taken some initial moves suggesting that it might be transitioning to some kind of market-based system, either capitalism or market socialism. Cuban officials would deny that they are in transition, however.

Having discussed the various types of economic systems, we will undertake a review of the Cuban economy from 1959, when the Cuban Revolution occurred, to the present. Finally, we will focus on economic reform during the period of crisis, 1989 to the present.

Threaded discussions:
Throughout the course you will participate in a Web-based threaded discussion. This is a very important component of the course, and I have arranged to have some well known experts on Cuba participate with us in the discussions.

Exam:
The exam will be right before the trip. It will cover all the readings and all the lectures. I will post the questions on the WebCT Exam tool at 5PM on March 8 and you are to post  your answers by 5PM on March 9.

Journal:
While in Cuba, you are to write a daily journal. This journal will include your DETAILED notes from the lectures and field trips. It should also record what you learned each day, your impressions of Cuba, its people, culture, economy, religion, politics, race relations, music, art, language, and anything else that interests you. Your task is to convince me that you are an informed and astute observer of the Cuban scene. After your return to the U.S., you will type up your journal (double spaced) and submit it to me, along with any supplemental material you may wish to include (such as drawings, if you are an artist) by April 6.

Essay:
Write a five-page essay on Cuba's current economic situation and its prospects for the future. Think of it as an article you might write for a popular (as opposed to academic) magazine. It should be well written and engaging without getting technical. I am not expecting you to write like an economist but I am interested in seeing if you learned any economics. The essay will be due on April 29 at 5PM. On matters of writing style, you might find it useful to consult a classic guide at http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html.

Web project:
The last requirement is a Web page illustrating your whole experience in Cuba. This can be anything you want it to be. It is your opportunity to share with the world your knowledge of Cuba. You should have fun with it. Don't be stressed because you are not an expert on html programming. You probably know someone who knows enough to get you started. I am not expecting anything polished. It will not be a major part of your grade (it will only be a part of your participation grade), but it is required. You can do this on your own or team up with no more than three other students. You can put it on your own site (just give me the url) or I will put it on the server here. It is due at the end of the exam week.

Attendance:
I do expect you to come to every class. Skipping classes will affect your participation grade. Please read the assigned materials before we cover them so that you can participate in discussions, answer the many questions I will ask in class, and do well on the exam.

You absolutely must attend every event in Cuba, including classes and field trips. For every event you miss, you will lose half a letter grade. Falling asleep during a lecture will also cost you half a letter grade. Being late will cost you points, depending on how late you are. I want you to have a good time in Cuba (I sure plan to!) but the academic program comes first.

Neuberger (1989).

Mesa-Lago (2000), pp. 199-200.

Mesa-Lago (2000), pp. 264-288.

Mesa-Lago (1998).

Maybarduk (1999).

Mesa-Lago (2001).

Perez-Lopez and Travieso-Diaz, (1998), pp. 3-54.

Trumbull (2000).

Baker (2004), pp. 81-89.

Travieso-Diaz and Trumbull (2002).

Nuccio (1999).

Purcell and Rothkopf, Chs. 1-4