Historians will argue over Fidel Castro’s economic legacy for many years to come, and an objective assessment is not possible in this brief paper. So here we limit the discussion to a broad survey of the nature of the economy that Fidel Castro left behind, outlining some of its strengths and weaknesses.
Introduction
The first section presents a broad description of the productive structure that Cuba inherited from the era of Fidel Castro, highlighting its unique characteristics, both positive and negative. The second explores the system of economic policy- making that developed during his presidency, including his legacy in terms of the external constraints that have overshadowed policymaking since the Cuban revolution. Finally, the third section considers the economic challenges that Castro left behind when Fidel stepped down in 2006, and asks whether or not the next generation of leaders are likely to have the capacity to respond adequately.