Cuban Private Sector: Three Cross-Cutting Policies and Their Real Limits

This article analyses the development of the private sector in Cuba, focusing on micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and self-employment (TCP), from their legal recognition to recent restrictions. It examines three cross-cutting policies: complementarity, equal conditions, and regulation of property concentration, all present in the Constitution and the Conceptualization of the Economic and Social Model. Although the legal framework promotes coexistence between state and private ownership, measures adopted since 2022 reflect a perspective that blames the private sector for inflation and economic disorder. The article details regulatory reforms, operational obstacles, and the decline in MSME approvals. It concludes that these policies have been misinterpreted and misapplied, limiting the growth of the private sector and hindering its contribution to national development. A comprehensive reform is proposed to foster coordination among actors, encourage investment, and ensure equitable conditions for all.