by Marshall on February 17, 2011
A short while ago, Chris Horst sent me a great article that inspired me to write about the dignity of entrepreneurship in Cuba. Chris now has an excellent new post with his thoughts on unlocking Cuban creativity:
At the core, we believe that God—the innovator of the solar systems, mountain ranges, and human emotion—has planted a glimmer of his creativity in us. When given the opportunity to do so, people will put that gift to work. Architects, chefs, artists, entrepreneurs, electricians, florists, educators and scientists each apply their God-given creativity in uniquely profound ways. Now, for the first time in decades, Cubans have the chance to do the same.
Follow the link above for the full post.
by Marshall on February 8, 2011
Pop quiz: Who said the following about entrepreneurship and self-employment?
“It is essential that we change the negative feelings that no small number of us harbor toward this kind of private labor.”
Here’s the grading scale:
- 1 point if you said Barack Obama. Wrong, but understandable.
- -5 points if you said Aaron Rogers. Not because he doesn’t know economics. Because he’s a Packer.
- 10 points (plus a gold star!) for the correct answer…Cuban Communist Dictator Raúl Castro!
After 40 years of prohibition, Cuban private employment is creeping out of the shadows and onto the map, the NY Times reports.
Some interesting facts:
- 85% of Cubans are employed by the government
- These workers earning about $20 per month plus free healthcare, education, and an assortment of rationed goods.
- It is illegal for Carpenters to build anything new, because there is no legal way to buy wood. They can only make repairs.
- There are now 178 kinds of private jobs that Cuba permits. (This is both remarkable and sad.)
- By the end of 2010, 75,000 new private businesses received government permits – an increase of 50%.
75,000 is more than a number. It’s 75,000 people, families, neighbors. Doing something new. Being creative. Improving their lives. Providing for their families with dignity. Offering a product or service that their communities value enough to pay them for. Ms. Álvarez is one of the 75,000:
“I feel useful; I’m independent,” said Ms. Álvarez, who opened a small cafe in November at her home in this scruffy town 25 miles from the capital, Havana. “When you sit down at the end of the day and look at how much you have made, you feel satisfied.”
Read the whole article here, and notice how entrepreneurship and hard work brings dignity and hope to those that previously had none. This is why I support economic freedom. This is why I work for HOPE International.
HT to Chris Horst.
