We believe that a nation with a weak and inefficient economy can hardly be considered sovereign, and a society where individuals lack the ability to create wealth cannot be truly free. Economic rights are not secondary to political rights — they are their essential complement. Without economic freedom, political freedom remains partial and precarious. Without the ability to earn, save, invest, and build, citizens cannot exercise the full range of rights that a free society demands.
Economic rights are a fundamental component of human rights. The right to work, to own property, to start a business, and to participate in markets on fair terms are not luxuries — they are foundations of human dignity. When these rights are denied or severely restricted, as they have been in Cuba for decades, the result is not only poverty but dependence — a structural condition in which citizens must rely on the state for their basic needs, and in which that dependence becomes a tool of political control.
For a vibrant civil society to exist, it must have access to economic resources; therefore, reforms that foster economic independence for Cubans are essential to their inherent freedoms. An entrepreneur who can sustain her own business is less vulnerable to state pressure. A journalist who is not dependent on a state salary can report more freely. A community organization that can raise its own funds can operate more independently. Economic empowerment and civic empowerment are two sides of the same coin.
We believe in the constructive power of markets to allocate resources, create jobs, and reduce poverty. Decades of centrally planned economy in Cuba have produced chronic shortages, structural inefficiencies, and a persistent failure to meet the basic needs of the Cuban people. The evidence from around the world is clear: market economies, when properly governed and ethically grounded, generate prosperity more effectively and sustainably than any alternative yet tried. Cuba’s economic future must be anchored in local private enterprise, entrepreneurship, and open markets.
While markets are the best solution for many societal challenges, they must function within a framework of ethics, compassion, and solidarity. We do not advocate for an unconstrained market that leaves the most vulnerable behind — we advocate for an economy that creates opportunity for all, protects the environment, and ensures that the benefits of growth are broadly shared. Economic reform in Cuba must be designed not just to grow the overall economy, but to build a more just and inclusive society.
We advocate for forceful and substantive economic reforms in Cuba, moving beyond the timid and trickle-down approaches of the past. The Cuba Study Group supports lawful trade and investment that is ethically conducted to benefit the Cuban people. Our focus is on facilitating change by empowering the Cuban people with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to succeed as independent entrepreneurs and architects of their own prosperity. Economic engagement, done right, is not just good policy — it is the most direct path to a freer Cuba.