THE GENIUS OF THE CUBAN

Published by El Nuevo Herald on August 28, 2016

Cuba, for its democratic stage, it was not only the most developed country in Latin America but was also the precursor of many economic and social projects, valid even today.

His process was gradual economic improvement, only hindered by arrival of the current political regime. Beginning the first democratic election in 1902 with President Tomas Estrada Palma, there were no funds for the military budget.

That's when it becomes public the commercial genius of the Cuban people, to make his country became the first nation to sign a treaty of reciprocity with the US, which established tax exemption to products manufactured by both countries included in this bilateral agreement.

Sustained improvement included the social welfare of the population. An example of this is when in 1936 the following proposals are implemented, among others: 1. Reinstate public services in contributions and taxes 2. Rewarding properly farmer work 3. Monitor and curb speculative abuses of corporations to protect  consumers. 4. Rectify the pensions.

In 1936 Cuba had a debt of $ 25 million. In an effort to reduce it, Cuba diversified its exports of tobacco, coffee, sugar and other agricultural products, managing to balance the US dollar with the Cuban peso.

Cuba also pioneered many other aspects, which certainly highlights the sagacity of Cubans.

For example: 1. Cuba created the system of retirement banks by sector, thus cover pensions without government expenditure 2. With the launch of Capitalization and Savings Banks, Cuba created the system of monthly savings to make down payment on a home. Thus, even the most humble worker had access to mortgage financing. 3. At the time, Cuba had reached a minimum wage, higher than the US, because the hourly wage of a carpenter or bricklayer was $ 0.82. 4. According to research Carlos Gonzalez, a Cuban economist and Palm Beach businessman, by 1930 there were 47,033 acres of undeveloped land. This justified the creation of the Bank for Agricultural and Industrial Development, which established a model by which entrepreneurs peasants benefited using a system of lease with option to purchase. 5. Cuba began a system of social justice that remains to this days. For example, equal pay between men and women (in the US still does not exist), a month bonus in December, paid 48 hours' wages for every 44 worked, payment of sugar workers daily wages according to the price of sugar and creation of Social Security, which was a model imitated by many countries as guaranteed quality medical care and superb service hospital, under a small fee deducted from the worker.

Cuban entrepreneurs founded department stores that were an example to follow throughout Latin America. Stores like the Ten Cent and El Encanto are distinguished worldwide for its elegance and service.

Cuba was also first in many other aspects, besides being the first Latin country to import a Ford car. It was also the first Hispanic country to issue a signal for color television.

Cuba has never really left behind, as history shows. Havana was always one of the most important cities in the Western Hemisphere. In 1778 already it had 51.561 inhabitants while Philadelphia, the most populous US city, had only 30,000 inhabitants in 1770. It was followed by New York with 16,000 and Boston with 15,000, both in 1776.

Unfortunately, Cuba has faced many political problems, since the government of Gerardo Machado, through the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista until the current inefficient communist dictatorship.

However, despite all these regimes, the nobility and genius of the Cuban always been revealed and all his early innovations have been and will be an example to the world.

Benjamin F. DeYurre

Economist and journalist.

 Follow on Twitter at: @DeYURRE