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This paper is about corporate entrepreneurship as a particular field on entrepreneurship related to established business, an understudied issue in Cuba. Considering the current situation of our state owned enterprises, has a potential for business renewal that should be taken into account. Therefore, theoretical frame, external and internal conditions for corporate entrepreneurship implementation is briefly discussed. An updated assessment of our state owned enterprises is also included and, finally, some ideas about corporate entrepreneurship implementation in our country are outlined, considering a context of profound transformations on this business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings to the debate on the Cuban reality the issue of public-private partnerships (PPP) and their possible use as an instrument that would contribute to the economic and social transformation of the nation. The article examines the international experience, the main characteristics of PPPs, their use in different realities and the pros and cons of their operation. Considering the changes that have been taking place, the opening to new agents, the new role of territories in growth and development and the budgetary restrictions that Cuba faces, some ideas are advanced on the challenges and possibilities of using PPPs in the country. Contrary to what might be thought, Cuba has had positive experiences in this regard in the field of infrastructure, which would allow extending it to other segments of socioeconomic activity where the State is unable to meet existing needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of social spending in Cuba, considering that this serves as a reference to analyze the importance assigned to social policy in a country. For this purpose, it starts with the analysis of Cuba's current situation in comparison with Latin America, based on the use of different social performance indicators. Likewise, a synthetic indicator of such performance is constructed as a measure of effectiveness and is compared with the expenditures spent for such purposes, as a measure of efficiency. It is found that Cuba is the most effective country in the region, but at the same time the least efficient. In order to face this challenge, a set of policy reflections is synthesized to contribute to the improvement of equity in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the theoretical conceptions defined for the new Cuban economic and social Model. It also warns about how difficult is to implement the economic reform. The main objective of the paper is to propose an approach for teaching "Political Economy of Socialism", which develops the ability of critical reflection in University students, instead of the assimilation of theories which validity can be limited to historical changing context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructure is one of the essential factors for advancing a successful productive transformation agenda. Cuba, which has achieved relevant results in the midst of serious economic difficulties, still has a considerable gap in the provision of services such as telecommunications and transport. This paper aims to analyse the country's situation in these areas and to study public-private partnerships and their possible application in Cuba as a solution to infrastructure deficits and fiscal restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major changes made by virtue of the updating of the Cuban economic and social model has been the establishment of non-agricultural cooperatives. This paper examines the characteristics of these, determines their potential for and obstacles to their development, and whether or not they are operating according to the basic cooperative principles. For this, apart from consulting the main literature thereon, a sample of members of construction industry cooperatives was surveyed in several municipalities of Havana. This paper starts from some conceptual considerations, examines the characteristics of cooperatives, particularly the ones in the Cuban construction industry, their potential and trouble, and lays down some guidelines intended to contribute to their development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with major challenges faced by Cubans concerning labor and care, from the perspective on the care economy and its implications for gender equality. Concepts are discussed first, and then the current situation of labor and care in Cuba is depicted. Some suggestions about what kind of public policies should be adopted are made. The results show that, in spite of the progress made in Cuban women's rights and opportunities, gender equality is not fully guaranteed, which is showed mostly in sociocultural patterns accentuating the sexual division of labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities contribute to social progress, economic growth, and cultural development to a large extent. Nowadays, universities in Cuba and all over the world are trying harder and harder to improve the quality of the processes occurring at them. For universities to be able to develop, and comply with their social responsibility it is essential for them to achieve total material and financial security, so fundamental activities at universities could be performed properly through the appropriate use of human, material, and financial resources, which will benefit living, working, and studying conditions at universities. This paper is aimed at showing the situation of total material and financial security in Cuban higher education institutions between 2009 and 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve distribution mechanisms is one of the problems of major importance to the transition to socialism in Cuba. One the most serious challenges to be immediately faced in this stage of constructing socialism is to use work for wealth creation, so people's quality and standard of life could be improved. Ways of contributing to the implementation of institutional distribution according to work in today's Cuba are as follows: improving mechanisms for distribution; giving individual and collective incentives; increasing productivity; paying more attention to peoples' working and living conditions, so these could be improved. This paper examines current trends in and contradictions of distribution according to work, and suggests ways of improving it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the project «Measures to improve the management of local development of villages, towns, and municipalities located in the province of Cienfuegos», conceived at the University of Cienfuegos as part of the National Program for Local Development. It suggests a methodology combining futures studies and statistical tools for assessing key variables through their indicators according to economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development. This methodology was used in the Guamuhaya Mountains (Cienfuegos), and can be also used in other Cuban mountain ecosystems. Such methods as expert evaluation, structural analysis, and statistical modeling were used to identify and assess 10 key factors, 37 indicators, and 16 key variables which can be also used in other studies of these Mountains in tune with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper starts from the premise that a business management from a gender perspective would contribute to a balanced relationship between men and women in all political, economic and social fields, from the empowerment and economic autonomy of women, the less favored group. In this paper we try to give a brief scene on the gender theme and its relation to business management, as well as to point out some elements about the opportunities and challenges of the Cuban business system for the inclusion of gender perspective into the enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the frame of a society which is building Socialism, the analysis of employment and wages variables, as well as the scheme of a wage policy, even international theory and experience in market economies can be assessed, cannot leave aside Marxist conceptions, instead they must be conceptualized from a vision coherent to the basic principles of a socialist model. In that model, wages are an instrument for individual and social realization of the subject in her/his double condition of worker and co-owner of the means of production and, besides, for distribution of the wealth created according to work in order the develop productive forces and to achieve social equality. This paper analyzes the characteristics of the transition period to Socialism and then qualifies what are consider the essential foundations for a wage policy according to the Cuban socioeconomic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financing of health systems plays an essential role in the coverage levels of health services, likewise, this financing influence in quality and results achieved not only in this sphere, but also in social terms in general. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to reflect about the way the financing of health services plays an essential role in the provision of higher quality services, in achieving a greater coverage and better results. Cuban experience has reached remarkable results in this area, which constitutes a point of reference worldwide. In the case of Cuba, this has been translated in an ever growing state financing of the national health system in order to guarantee a higher coverage, worldwide access, different programs sustainability, as well as the quality and results achieved in such area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper briefly analyzes the development of the foreign investment as from the 90's, and exposes the enormous weight the international economic associations in force have, especially on sales, goods exports, and the country's direct revenues, derived from the introduction of technologies, investment, and the search of external markets. The paper emphasizes the need of foreign investment revival so that it can contribute to speed up the economic growth. The key for its launching is further described, which can be the recent passing of the decree which will make possible the progress of a special development area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is aimed at contributing to the debate on the need and the role of the market in contemporary Cuban socialist economy. The research work demystifies the identity between capitalism and market - which prevailed, for a long time, in the economic theory of socialism-; several theoretical premises of socialist market economy in China are summarized, and its transcendence assessed; and necessary conditions in Cuba to regard market, and functions to comply with from then on are determined. The paper states the mistake to negate market, and it confirms the fact that the Cuban economy is driving towards an economic model that fits its planned management with the law of value (to this effect, macroeconomic and microeconomic factors should be integrated in a systemic view of development), and that transition towards a new economic model will be a progressive, complex, and controversial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the link of the nature tourism to the process of local development in «Minas de Matahambre» Municipality. The need to define mechanisms and tools for touristic management in a mining-identity territory motivated to carry out this study, which result was the identification of constrains that hinder the implementation of tourism as a local development factor and the design of a methodology which allows to link nature tourism to the productive system of this town. Steps to be followed by the actors of this process are defined, mainly by the local government. These steps allow to adopt a different way for organizing local processes, through the integration among actors, with a systemic approach of the processes and the conscious participation of all social actors, as well as the planned fulfillment of the interests of the mining society at micro, middle and macroeconomic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities are in charge of leading main transformations of society through the results achieved in human resources formation, research-development and innovation. In order to fulfill the social mission and the development of the university, it is essential to ensure financing. Cuban University was, active and consciously, involved in the devising of the Lineamientos de la política económica y social del Partido Comunista de Cuba-PCC (Guidelines for the Economic and Social Policy of the Cuban Communist Party), the objectives for conceptualizing the economic model, and the central themes for the economic development up to 2030, which were endorsed in the Seventh Congress of the Cuban Communist Party and in the Cuban Parliament Session on June, 2017. Financing is required for creating and developing the scientific, technological, new, universalized, humanist, relevant and innovative university needed for the growth and development of the Cuban Economy and its social project. The aim of this paper is to outline the main financing sources and their impact on Cuban University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a global accumulation model prevailing, external insertion and growth are two interlinked aspects of development. This paper is aimed at examining how this affects the Cuban economy quantitatively, and making some suggestions for articulating economic policies and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several features of the Cuban economy explain its high sensitivity to external shocks affecting trade and finance. The business cycle responds immediately to disturbances in these areas. This paper aims at calculating an index that shows the relation between Cuba's short term economic growth and that of its closest trading partners, considering their weight in overall trade. The index can be used to anticipate future performance and to consider policy remedies to reduce that dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper exposes participation of hotel management contracts in the Cuban lodging industry, calculates its financial cost, compares with the cost of hotel franchises and determinates its negative impact in domestic touristic economy. Authors conclude that this trend compromise the future of lodging industry and create technological dependence, then propose to empower Cuban owner operators as way to create competitive advantages that would allow the positioning of Cuban hotels brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high levels of uncertainty to which international markets are currently subjected, reflect the importance of counting on adequate methods to make the estimates of prices prevailing in the market as a main tool for planning. The present paper performs an analysis of the Price estimate process development in Cuban foreign trade, as part of the planning of the national economy, and proves the limitations that still prevail in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of work in creating collective wealth is a basic precept of the building of socialism in Cuba. A large number of social researchers have theorized on distribution according to work, and many of them have considered this type of distribution to occur in the socialist state sector only. However, there are a lot of self-employed workers today in Cuba, with them being important economic agents to be considered when performing macroeconomic research. This paper is aimed at demonstrating that distribution according to work also occurs in the non-state sector. It is also important to bear in mind that the Cuban economic and social model is being updated, and at the same time the Cuban economic theory is being elaborated currently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper offers the first results of a research on entrepreneurial management's innovation and practices, carried out in a group of enterprises in Cuba's capital city having satisfactory results in their innovation management in the last years. The paper includes some basic ideas on innovation; an explanation of the approach that Cuba follows at present aimed at evaluating innovation's management; an analysis of the leading results achieved in studied enterprises, and an assessment on certain practices considered indicative for innovation. Finally, some suggestions are presented in order to improve the enterprise's performance as to its management and its relationship with the other areas involved in the management results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the efficiency of commercial negotiators from the determination of the elements that characterize their profiles is a useful tool for elaborating actions plans that contribute to the improvement of the Cuban enterprises' negotiating activity. A procedure for determining technical efficiency of commercial negotiators in Cuban enterprises is presented in this paper, by the use of a nonparametric technique of data enveloping analysis (DEA). The use of this procedure in Cuban enterprises linked to foreign commerce activity allowed determining technical efficiency indexes of commercial negotiators from these entities as well as identifying elements that determine this efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There exist different sources that produce the new scientific and technological knowledge. We may highlight among them research in basic, social and applied sciences carried out by universities and other research centers. Transference of technology is one of the key activities carried out by universities nowadays and which favorably influence on the economic and social development of the communities and of the country. The present paper exhibits the study made, using as the main informative source the results obtained through a survey applied to a group of Colombian universities. These surveys collect information on different aspects with the aim to identify the situation of the offices of technologies transference, or similar structures in Colombian Universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measures and transformations highly influential in the business functioning system have been taken in Cuba, as part of the "updating of the economic model". The boost and relaxation given to the private sector and the consolidation of a non-state sector in general, as well as the possibility of hiring working force in this sector, constitutes one of the most transcendent aspects of the present reform. Some of the implications of this new scene for the business system as a whole were assessed in this paper, by highlighting contradictions already present and which could be aggravated if a regulatory and coherent institutional structure is not created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of execution of Socialist state property in the context of the up-dating of the Cuban economic model and its business management model demands a necessary realization, through an innovating and integral organizational practice. The system resulting from this practice should have enough capacity to produce a real and substantive participation of the working groups in the management and control of the functions of the process of social reproduction. The need and the possibility of creating this participatory direction system in the socialist state enterprise is approached in this paper, projecting it as a basic and integrating link to the whole business management system and serves as a support of the organizational strategy. It is about a management system able to produce spaces for participation which are interrelated and aligned to the strategic project developed by the organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of knowledge resulting from the fast-paced advance of science, and its use as a commodity, has given rise to the so-called «knowledge economy», and, consequently, to the emergence of high tech companies. The present paper provides some concepts and proposals, regarding the structure the economic management model of this kind of enterprises in Cuba should. The suggested model is aimed at guaranteeing key. Likewise, the paper also presents the feasibility of implementing this type of companies following existing circumstances and regulations in our economy, and regarding established guidelines as part of updating process of cuban economic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evidences the result of studying the role of the intellectual capital in the sustainable development of organizations, as well as the diagnosis about the management of the intangible assets in the Cubans companies, where 210 Havana's companies were used as samples. The present paper suggests a model for the measurement of the efficiency of intangibles's management, adapted to the conditions of Cuban economy. For the determination of intangible inductive variables of value in our context, a research with 210 businessmen of all the country was carried out. The feasibility and pertinence of proposed mode is evaluated through its application to a Cuban metallurgic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to make an estimate of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Public Sector in Cuba, in comparison with all Latin American and Caribbean countries in the period 2001-2012. The work followed the scheme of the composite indicators, through Afonzo, Shuknecht, and Tanzi's methodology. The empirical results reveal the existence of positive results in the fulfillment and scope of the functions of the Public Sector in Cuba, especially in the field of healthcare and education, although the efficiency index obtained was one of the lowest in the region. However, this methodology proved to have inaccuracies that introduce bias in the comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer service, its design and its logistic component are poorly comprehended and wasted in Cuban enterprises' present activities. Though most of them take into account the relationship between logistics and customer service, such relationship is only regarded as a support to the service, and not as an important way to increase the efficiency and competitiveness levels. This paper aims at introducing a procedure for customer service logistic design in the service industry, such procedure has been applied in different companies, and such has made possible to confirm its validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various aspects are analysed related to the photovoltaic energy, namely: environmental aspects, production, markets, costs, crystalline silicon solar cells (c-Si) progress, economic analysis and forecast of photovoltaic (PV) energy. The paper comments on the characteristics of the components for PV systems, the reduction cost tendency for each kWh FV vs. kWh fossil. Some economic actions are suggested to promote a national PV program in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The input-output modeling is a technique that makes possible to evaluate the policies' or shocks effects on the sectorial productive levels. The input-output different models' statistical ground is the input-output matrix, which collects and processes great volumes of information, frequently obtained through censuses and pools that may vary either in its scope, as well as in the timing of its application. Due to the need of increasing the arsenal towards the evaluation of economic policies in Cuba, it is necessary for the country to call upon a consolidated statistical ground. The present paper debates the availability and quality of Cuban statistics as to the methodological recommendations associated to the creation of input-output matrix, as well as some variants to capture the absent information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is aimed at providing a brief summary of the process of transformations that have taken place in Cuba during the two last years, from a primarily point of view. The paper is made up of five parts: an introduction, a section devoted to highlight the way in which the economic upgrading process has gone deeper and has extended in search of a proper definition of Cuban Socialism; a second section which addresses the process as from the crisis management and survival, until the definition of the paths of development; a third section which assess the results as from two perspectives: the process of transformations, and the economic results of the country in the last years (though there are certain limits for the analysis due to data availability), and one last section with a brief conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper goes deeply into those determiners of qualified workforce that contribute to Cuba's economic growth. Based on estimates of production performances and accounting of such growth, elements contribution was determined, and it was corroborated that contribution of Cuban qualified workforce has been positive and meaningful, but with a tendency to decrease. As to what was previously stated, asimetries were identified regarding composition, provision, and performance of the aforementioned workforce. The main conclusion is that combination of such distortions has determined that its effective use is lower than that which is socially required and potential, all those in terms of economic growth and sustainability. Such has produced expenditures in terms of efficiencies that may be synthesize in productivity and inefficiency potential losses of education expenditures, whose correction demands a comprehensive design of public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuban demographic tendency foresees a speeding up process of decrease of population, with a definitive population aging process. Such proves the homogeneous and accelerated demographic transition process in the country, albeit with a persistency in territorial, economic, and social inequalities that have brought about clear evidences of a differential demographic behavior in each province, which constitutes the chief base of current and future provincial demographic scenarios. The present paper is aimed at characterizing aging acceleration process in the period 2010-2015 in different provinces. Different provincial groups were developed for selected prediction periods, using assorted techniques. Results shown are a useful information towards assembling local and national development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the article, deals with the global accumulation model's features and its implications for external insertion processes and economic growth. Within such methodological framework, the paper also assess Cuban economy growth dynamics for 2000-2010 period. Conclusions are provided at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper argues about the malfunctioning of the current model of economic development and assess the content of the updating process initiated in 2011. As for the perspective of the outlying transition to socialism, the present work states the difference between economic model and economic system, as well as the basis and consequences of the confusion between both within the scope of socialism's political economy. It also reasons upon the better use of the development model concept in order to make out those Cuban Communist Party's 6th Congress' decisions, and puts forward its components, emphasizing transformation of productive structures and international insertion pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase food production is a key fact of the highest importance in our country's development strategy. The agricultural sector is the one encharge of guaranteeing, to a large extent, such goal. Yaguajay is a rural territory that has been transforming itself; from a traditionally sugar cane producer, it now produces several crops and meat, to guarantee the basic food basket and offers to tourism. This paper analyzes and assess policies and strategies that will make possible sustainable increase of such productions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The «interface» mechanisms, in their many ways, have become essential elements that instill dynamics to knowledge management towards local environment and contribute to its development. The research project becomes a valid tool to this aim. The present paper shows results reached through two research projects linked to local development and negotiated by Pinar del Río University Centro de Estudios de Gerencia, Desarrollo Local y Turismo (GEDELTUR) (Management, Local Development and Tourism Study Center, N.B.). Experience is set in two different approaches: first, on the basis of research-action; second, on training-action-research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2009, «project planning» has been regarded as a planning instrument which tries to combine local interests with national ones, taking advantage of the potentials existing in Cuban municipalities. That is how a mechanism is established which, paralleled to traditional planning, makes possible different ways of production, development of profitable and sustainable productive projects, that conditioned the necessary change of mind and management that should go, side by side, with Cuban economy development process. This paper aims at deepening in the problems that today a territory has in terms of planning and assessing the new instrument encouraged by Ministerio de Economía y Planificación (Ministry of Economics and Planning, N.B.): Iniciativa Municipal de Desarrollo Local (IMDL) (Local Development Municipality Initiative, N.B.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

«Territory» constitutes a very important economic variable for local development processes, with the singular characteristic that it is simultaneously a physical support and a fundamental actor for these processes. A brief critical assessment of some of the contributions made in the field of economic sciences in relation to the territorial dimension of development is made in this paper, and it is also stressed the growing significance of a transdisciplinary treatment in the studies regarding this theme. Finally, some considerations are stated on the guidelines drawn up in the lineaments traced by the Communist Party at its VIth Congress about the territories and the local development, and their theoretical and practical significance for the construction of Socialism in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comes from the concern about the need of recognition and integral implementation of the «local development » conception as the nuclei of the redimentioning of the Cuban economic model. It pretends to contribute to the reversion of negative perceptions about the convenience of its implementation within a Socialist-oriented economic environment, due to the distorsioned perspective that in this regard is generated by the presence of some basic links within its public policies component, as it is the case of the decentralization policy and the incentive policy to business innovation. The analysis deals with the correlation between «socioeconomic development» and «local development», consequently, with the non-generic nature of the application of this theoretical economic variant as a model for development. A point of view based on the systemic approach of the phenomenon in relation to its components and objectives is specified, and from this perspective of analysis, a cross DAFO matrix on the application of «local development» in Cuba is created, with the correspondent suggestions to face restrictions, challenges and defiance, as well as for the good deployment of the potentialities for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]