Raul Castro's Socio-Economic Reforms: Evaluation of Results

November 2, 2012 - 4:00 pm

Raul Castro's Socio-Economic Reforms. November 2, 2012

Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Economics and Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh
This talk will be based on Dr. Mesa-Lago’s most recent publication: Cuba en la era de Raul Castro: Reformas economico-sociales y sus efectos (Madrid: Editorial Colibri, September 2012). This book will be presented at this meeting.

Discussant:
Mauricio Font, The Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies

Moderator:
Mario Gonzalez-Corzo, Lehman College, CUNY

Carmelo Mesa-LagoCarmelo Mesa-Lago is Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Economics and Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. He is author of 82 books/pamphlets and 275 articles/chapters published in 7 languages in 34 countries, on the Cuban economy, social security and comparative economic systems, as well as founder/editor for 18 years of Cuban Studies. His most recent books include Market, Socialist and Mixed Economies: Comparative Policy and Performance (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002), Cuba’s Aborted Reform: Socioeconomic Effects, International Comparisons and Transition Policies (with J. Perez-Lopez, University Press of Florida, 2005), Reassembling Social Security (Oxford University Press, 2012), and Cuba en la era de Raul Castro: Reformas economico-sociales y sus efectos (Editorial Colibri, 2012). Mesa-Lago has worked throughout Latin America as regional advisor for ECLAC, consultant with most international financial organizations, several U.N. branches and national/foreign foundations. A past President of the Latin American Studies Association, he is a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance and has received the ILO International Research Prize on Decent Work, the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung Senior Prize, two Senior Fulbrights, Arthur Whitaker and Hoover Institution Prizes, the Distinction of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, the Bicentennial Medallion of the University of Pittsburgh, Homage for his life work on social security (OISS, CISS) and the Cuban economy (Revista Encuentro) and other awards/grants; was finalist in Spain’s Prince of Asturias Prize on Social Sciences 2009. He has been a visiting professor or researcher in Argentina, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, United Kingdom and the United States, as well as a lecturer in 39 countries.

Mauricio FontMauricio Font is director of the Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies and professor of sociology at The Graduate Center and Queens College, City University of New York. His research examines problems of development and reform in Brazil, Cuba and Latin America as well as international cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.