How to judge whether an economy “works”: GDP and living standards in Cuba
Undeterred by the global catastrophe unleashed by its attacks on Iran, the U.S. government announced yet further economic actions against Cuba last week.
Since its military intervention in Venezuela, the U.S. has illegally blocked oil shipments from any country to Cuba. That has caused electricity blackouts, blocked tourism (including by the one million Canadians who visit there each year), caused immeasurable economic damage, and now endangers the lives of dialysis patients and others.
Now the U.S. is blackmailing other Latin American countries to expel Cuban medical experts who have long worked abroad –where they generate needed foreign earnings for Cuba, as well as supporting health care services in poorer countries. And Donald Trump revealed his ultimate imperial ambitions bluntly: “I do believe I’ll be… having the honour of taking Cuba… I could do anything I want with it.”
As Cuba struggles to survive, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (who has long advocated overthrowing its government) gloated that the suffering is due to the country’s internal economic failures: “The bottom line is their economy doesn’t work – it’s a nonfunctional economy.”
The U.S. has maintained an economic blockade against Cuba for over 60 years. During his first term, Trump tightened restrictions on private companies trading with Cuba (reversing partial liberalization that occurred under Barack Obama). Those restrictions include leveraging America’s position at the centre of global finance to impose huge penalties on global banks and other companies (even those without a direct presence in the U.S.) which dared to continue business in Cuba.
Not surprisingly, these new illegal U.S. attacks have caused a desperate crisis in Cuba. It’s beyond parody for the leaders of this U.S. imperial excursion to justify this continued sabotage of Cuba on circular grounds that Cuba’s economy “doesn’t work.”
But apart from the self-fulfilling arrogance of Rubio’s claim, his claim that Cuba’s economy “doesn’t work” deserves further investigation. Obviously, the latest U.S. actions have deeply disrupted everything in the Cuban economy. From a longer-term perspective, however, Rubio’s judgment is invalid – because an economy’s success must be judged by more than the value of its GDP.
Even under the 60-year blockade, if economic success is measured instead by the concrete conditions of human life, Cuba’s economy worked surprisingly well. Its record in achieving very high literacy, life expectancy, and healthcare access is notable.
Why it matters: The U.S. economic blockade against Cuba not only affects the Cuban economy but also reflects broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and its approach to international relations.
What to watch:
- Future U.S. economic policies regarding Cuba and their impact on the Cuban people.
- Responses from other Latin American countries to U.S. pressure on Cuban medical professionals.
- Potential shifts in U.S. public opinion regarding the blockade and its humanitarian consequences.
Source credibility: Rabble.ca is a reliable outlet known for its progressive stance and in-depth analysis on social justice and political issues.
Published: March 23, 2026 3:26 PM
Source: rabble.ca — https://go.noligarchy.us/eYj3tx