Havana: From local experiment to national reform

Cuba's 2011 national reforms, which marked a significant shift from its revolutionary economic model, were informed by localized experiments in Old Havana and Barrio Chino. These reforms, unprecedented in their scope, drew on lessons from decentralization efforts and management of the informal sector since 2000. The study highlights that while the reforms incorporated specific insights from these case studies, they also aligned with broader development principles advocated by China. This research underscores how localized experimentation can shape national policy, offering a model for understanding economic reform in socialist contexts.

Hearn, A. H., & Alfonso, F. J. (2012). Havana: From local experiment to national reform. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 33(2), 226–240. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9493.2012.00460.x