Cuba comparison

[Schrödinger's Cat]

I realize Wikipedia isn't the most reliable of sources, but something struck me about Cuba's wealth relative to the world - particularly Latin America:

According to Wikipedia, Cuba's GDP per capita was $11,000 for 2007. Since Cuba probably has one of the smallest wealth gaps in the world, we can assume that this does not create a large disparity. Obviously a lot of this money is swallowed up in the form of taxes, but that's irrelevant to the existence of such wealth.

When I check a list of the countries, ranked, with similar statistics, Cuba fairs pretty well (Despite not being ranked): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita)

El Salvador: 5,800
Iran: 10,5700
Belarus: 10,900
Ukraine: 6,900
Costa Rica: 10,000
Chile: 13,900
Bolivia: 4,000
Guatemala: 4,500
Mexico: 14,000
Nicaragua: 3,000
Panama: 10,000
Romania: 11,000
Haiti: 700
Syria: 5,000
Turkey: 12,800
Brazil: 9,800

If Cuba continues its growth patterns (8%), it could become one of the wealthiest countries in the world - relatively at least. Currently it would sit at the high end of 60 (about half way when comparing all the countries).

Would this be a fair comparison?

On edit- The CIA is showing 4,000, but their chart is weird. It shows 18% growth in per capita income, consistently, for the past three years: http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=cu&v=67

[BobKKKindle$]

The reference for the Wikipedia article links to the CIA factbook page for Cuba (source (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html#Econ)) which records Cuba's GDP/Capita as being $11,000 as of 2008. It is difficult to know whether this is correct because the CIA has an interest in trying to make it seem as if Cuba is richer than it actually is, because currently Cuba's main accomplishments lie in the fact that the government has been able to sustain the provision of public services of a high quality despite the damaging effects of the embargo and Cuba's small GDP.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Cuba GDP per capita (according to the CIA) chart (http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=cu&v=67).

According to this, Cuba's per capita GDP has grown from 1,700 in 2000 to 4,500 in 2008.

But the same source says that Cuba didn't eliminate illiteracy until 2007, which is completely wrong.

Then the page Bob linked to says it's 11,000 right now..

I think it's most important to look at things like literacy, infant mortality, caloric intake, etc., if you want to make a comparison between Cuba and other countries with similar histories and positions in the world.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

http://www.cubatruthproject.org/

[ashaman1324]

the factbook of the organization that has tried to kill fidel castro over 80times is probably not the most reliable source... im assuming there is a bit of a bias. i believe the wikipedia version in this case.

[Sankofa]

the factbook of the organization that has tried to kill fidel castro over 80times is probably not the most reliable source... im assuming there is a bit of a bias. i believe the wikipedia version in this case.

Pfft, only 80? Try more than 638 attempts* where they tried to kill him.


*(in reference to the popular British documentary (http://www.amazon.com/Ways-Kill-Castro-Wayne-Smith/dp/B000NDI3PI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1226368337&sr=8-1) with the same name)

[Charles Xavier]

Do not forget much of the useless and unproductive economy such as marketing do not exist in Cuba. I don't think you can really compare gdp from socialism to capitalism, as capitalism has a lot of industries included in its gdp that do not produce commodities.

[JimmyJazz]

^That's quite true, and I'm not sure why leftists so often uncritically accept the GDP as a measure, even of actual productivity, much less of material welfare. Even a liberal like RFK knew better (http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/faculty/michael.brandl/main%20page%20items/Kennedy%20on%20GNP.htm).


Our gross national product ... if we should judge America by that - counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets. It counts Whitman's rifle and Speck's knife, and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.

"Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile. And it tells us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans.

Cuba's 8% growth rate could well be (I'm not saying it is, I don't really know) accounted for by the growth of a tourist industry. Would that really be a good thing? Or would it really represent some kind of victory for the socialist idea?

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

There's actually been a big leap in industrial production in Cuba recently.

[VukBZ2005]

There's actually been a big leap in industrial production in Cuba recently.

Really? If you wish, can you please explain what do you exactly mean by that?

[Charles Xavier]

Really? If you wish, can you please explain what do you exactly mean by that?


Without oil the economy went to a standstill now Cuba for the last 8 years has had a lot of access to oil.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

That's a factor that has helped things (oil imports), but it is certainly not the main reason Cuba's economy is growing. The previous problems were a result of capitalist restoration in many of Cuba's former trading partners.


Really? If you wish, can you please explain what do you exactly mean by that?

Industrial production has grown in Cuba over the past few years, according to Cuba and its enemies.

The CIA says:

In 2005, the industrial production growth rate in Cuba was 1.4%.
In 2006, it was 5.1%.
In 2007, it was 17.6%.
In 2008, it is 8%.

[ashaman1324]

Pfft, only 80? Try more than 638 attempts* where they tried to kill him.
all the more reason to expect bias.
...wow thats alot.


Do not forget much of the useless and unproductive economy such as marketing do not exist in Cuba. I don't think you can really compare gdp from socialism to capitalism, as capitalism has a lot of industries included in its gdp that do not produce commodities.
i agree. and in a socialist economy the gdp is much more accurate than you'll see in any capitalist economy because of the lack of obviously separated classes.


There's actually been a big leap in industrial production in Cuba recently.
good for them:)
this is exactly what they've needed since fidel castro stepped down.