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Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Cuba: An analysis of Cuba’s economic and social development policy

Kalandaridis, Olivia LU (2024) MIDM19 20241
Department of Human Geography
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Abstract
In 2019, the Cuban state legalized private businesses in the form of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), a remarkable shift from their historically centralized planned economy. The thesis analyzes how MSMEs are portrayed in the Cuban Economic and Social Model of Socialist Development 2021–2026 policy. The analysis is conducted using Baccchi’s What’s the Problem Represented to be (WPR) approach, supported by poststructural theory and political economy. The thesis examines what problems the policy chooses to address, what assumptions underlying these problem representations, and how it is impacting MSMEs, seeking to understand how MSMEs are portrayed as legitimate economic actors. MSMEs are seen positioned as both necessary for... (More)
In 2019, the Cuban state legalized private businesses in the form of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), a remarkable shift from their historically centralized planned economy. The thesis analyzes how MSMEs are portrayed in the Cuban Economic and Social Model of Socialist Development 2021–2026 policy. The analysis is conducted using Baccchi’s What’s the Problem Represented to be (WPR) approach, supported by poststructural theory and political economy. The thesis examines what problems the policy chooses to address, what assumptions underlying these problem representations, and how it is impacting MSMEs, seeking to understand how MSMEs are portrayed as legitimate economic actors. MSMEs are seen positioned as both necessary for economic growth and as potential threats to socialist ideals. With the framing of MSMEs, the policy emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing socialist ideology and the relevance of the Revolution where socialism becomes a protector of Cuba’s national identity and values. The strong ideological landscape makes it difficult for MSMEs to operate, even though the private sector is considered important for economic growth. The thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of ideological and political influences in Cuba’s economic policies, offering a framework for analyzing similar processes in other centralized economies. (Less)
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author
Kalandaridis, Olivia LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Cuba, MSME, Micro, small, and medium enterprises, economy, policy, WPR, Bacchi
language
English
id
9155444
date added to LUP
2024-07-24 11:31:28
date last changed
2024-07-24 11:31:28
@misc{9155444,
  abstract     = {{In 2019, the Cuban state legalized private businesses in the form of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), a remarkable shift from their historically centralized planned economy. The thesis analyzes how MSMEs are portrayed in the Cuban Economic and Social Model of Socialist Development 2021–2026 policy. The analysis is conducted using Baccchi’s What’s the Problem Represented to be (WPR) approach, supported by poststructural theory and political economy. The thesis examines what problems the policy chooses to address, what assumptions underlying these problem representations, and how it is impacting MSMEs, seeking to understand how MSMEs are portrayed as legitimate economic actors. MSMEs are seen positioned as both necessary for economic growth and as potential threats to socialist ideals. With the framing of MSMEs, the policy emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing socialist ideology and the relevance of the Revolution where socialism becomes a protector of Cuba’s national identity and values. The strong ideological landscape makes it difficult for MSMEs to operate, even though the private sector is considered important for economic growth. The thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of ideological and political influences in Cuba’s economic policies, offering a framework for analyzing similar processes in other centralized economies.}},
  author       = {{Kalandaridis, Olivia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Cuba: An analysis of Cuba’s economic and social development policy}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}