As part of my 2017 series on the tragic history of communism, I wrote a column about the bizarre affection on the left for Che Guevara. Why is it bizarre? Well, watch this video. I hardly need to add anything. Che Guevara was a reprehensible human being. So the rest of this column will recycle […]
The Morally Bankrupt Death Cult of Che Guevara, Part II
The Morally Bankrupt Death Cult of Che Guevara, Part II
01 Nov 2026 Leave a comment
in development economics, growth disasters, liberalism, libertarianism, Marxist economics Tags: Cuba
Fidel Castro: Human Garbage
22 Aug 2026 1 Comment
in development economics, economic history, growth disasters, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: Cuba, regressive left
I’ve written many columns documenting Cuba’s economic misery. Probably the most-persuasive evidence that socialism has failed in that country is the chart showing how Cuba has fallen behind other (very similar) countries ever since Fidel Castro took over more than six decades ago. Though I’ve always thought the most-damning visual came from the Economist, which […]
Fidel Castro: Human Garbage
Forthcoming – Cuban Infant Mortality and Longevity: Health Care or Repression?
05 May 2026 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of regulation, health economics, Marxist economics, transport economics Tags: Cuba, life expectancies
I have received news that a short article submitted to Health Policy & Planning has been accepted for publication. In the article, I argue that the statistics regarding Cuba’s health care are distorted by the incentives generated by the target system under which physicians must operate (at the threat of penalties). To meet their targets, they re-categorize […]
Forthcoming – Cuban Infant Mortality and Longevity: Health Care or Repression?
The Ongoing Tragedy of Cuban Socialism
30 Aug 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, development economics, econometerics, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, growth disasters, history of economic thought, industrial organisation, law and economics, Marxist economics, property rights, Public Choice Tags: Cuba
I’ve written several articles about the failure of Cuban socialism (2024, 2022, 2021, 2019, and 2016). My leftist friends almost always respond by claiming that U.S.-imposed trade restrictions are the primary reason for Cuba’s terrible economy. Since I like free trade, I certainly agree that trade restrictions are bad for growth (a lesson I wish […]
The Ongoing Tragedy of Cuban Socialism
Guest Post: Criticising Cuba
23 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, development economics, economic history, economics of crime, growth disasters, history of economic thought, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice Tags: Cuba
A guest post by Lucy Rogers: Today (as of the time of writing) I saw Associate Professor Michael Mawson of the theology faculty at Auckland University advertise on Facebook an event hosting Professor Miguel De La Torre, a Cuban academic specialising in liberation theology. The event is to be held at the Maclaurin Chapel at […]
Guest Post: Criticising Cuba
Communism still doing well in Cuba
05 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, development economics, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, economics of crime, growth disasters, income redistribution, labour economics, labour supply, law and economics, Marxist economics, property rights, Public Choice, public economics Tags: Cuba
The Miami Herald reports: A stunning 10% of Cuba’s population — more than a million people — left the island between 2022 and 2023, the head of the country’s national statistics office said during a National Assembly session Friday, the largest migration wave in Cuban history. Isn’t it such a weird coincidence that the queue […]
Communism still doing well in Cuba
Cuba Libre
05 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, development economics, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, economics of crime, growth disasters, history of economic thought, human capital, income redistribution, industrial organisation, labour economics, labour supply, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA, poverty and inequality, Public Choice, public economics, rentseeking Tags: Cuba
Martin Gurri has a very good, deep-dive on the current situation in Cuba. The wreckage of the Cuban economy really can’t be exaggerated. The perpetual blackouts are an apt symbol of a country that is headed for the dark ages. For the first time since the revolution, Cuba is begging the United Nations for food aid. Nearly […]
Cuba Libre
Useful idiot draws inspiration from Cuba
04 Dec 2022 Leave a comment
in Marxist economics, politics - Australia Tags: Cuba, useful idiots
It’s Fidel Castro’s 90th Birthday!
07 Nov 2021 Leave a comment
in development economics, economic history, growth disasters, Marxist economics Tags: Cuba, economics of socialism
The Other October Crisis: The Sino-Indian War of 1962
15 Oct 2021 Leave a comment
in defence economics, war and peace Tags: China, Cold War, Cuba, India
Batista: Cuba’s Military Dictator
10 Mar 2021 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, economics of crime, law and economics, Marxist economics, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: Cuba
Voting with their feet @AOC @BernieSanders @Greens @NZGreens
05 Sep 2020 Leave a comment
in Marxist economics Tags: 2020 presidential election, capitalism and freedom, Cuba, regressive left, The Great Enrichment, useful idiots
#COVID19 strands Chilean leftist in Cuba, pleads for help to escape
31 Jul 2020 Leave a comment
in development economics, growth disasters, Marxist economics Tags: Cuba, useful idiot
Casto @BernieSanders
28 Jul 2020 Leave a comment
in development economics, economic history, growth disasters, Marxist economics Tags: Cuba, regressive left, useful idiots
From Health, Politics, and Revolution in Cuba Since 1898
29 Feb 2020 Leave a comment
in comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, development economics, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, growth disasters, health economics, law and economics, Marxist economics, Public Choice Tags: Cuba
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