Social Indiscipline

Because the Cuban state heavily subsidizes the costs of basic foods, education, healthcare, transportation, and other facets of social life, regardless of whether one is incorporated into the workforce, not everyone is motivated to hold down formal employment. Especially for those in urban centers connected to the external economy, engaging in unsanctioned commerce or living off of remittances can prove more profitable than daily labor. The lack of material incentive has left thousands of unfilled vacancies in strategic sectors such as construction and agriculture. Havana has to import police, teachers and construction workers from the provinces because not enough capitalinos will take such occupations. Furthermore, the below replacement birthrates since the depression of the 1990s have not been able to restock the general labor force. The party and the state attempt to morally incentivize insertion into the workforce by portraying absentee laborers as parasites.

Birth rates up 9%

In a nation whose population had actually been decreasing in recent years, almost 9% more babies arrived this year than last.

Those babies were conceived and passed the first trimester while Cuba's economy was looking up, before the hurricanes destroyed the food and housing situations. So I would guess that people have put the breaks on bringing more mouths to the table--which we would see evidence of next year.

24% of Cuba's population evacuated

{{{UPDATE 09/09/08--As Hurricane Ike made a second crossing, battering Cuba, the toll of evacuees rose to over 2.6 million people. That is nearly a quarter of the population that mobilized to secure locations.

It appears to have spared Havana major damage.

Nevertheless the devastation to housing, agriculture and infrastructure is vast.

Today the entire Cuban nation sympathizes with Tina Turner.}}}



In the face of Hurricane Ike, about 1.3 million Cubans and 10 thousand tourists have been evacuated to secure locations on the island. At this point, only 4 people have died.

Last week, Hurricane Gustav ravaged two provinces. During Gustav there were no deaths, despite millions of dollars in damage caused by the 100+ mph winds of the Category 4 cyclone.

There is something to be said about the social use of limited resources, a highly organized society, public control of airwaves, and the prioritization of saving human lives over every other goal.

Presently, Ike appears to be doing its damnedest to impact all fifteen provinces.

Much of the southern coast is flooded.

Ike is headed for Havana.

Everyone Moving to Havana

Of all the Cubans who relocated internally, 40.8% move to Havana.

For several reasons:

Young people dont want to work the land. Especially the educated youth, which is just about all of them.

Havana has much more cultural and entertainment attractions than other cities, let alone rural towns.

The tourist economy is concentrated in Havana, so those with eyes for dollars over hard "honorable" work find more opportunity in the capital.

Most goods, even those subsidized and distributed throughout the country, enter and disperse from Havana. Which means supplies might run short before the far flung towns are stocked. It also means these goods are more readily found on the Havana informal market than elsewhere.

Apparently Cuba is going to address this "deformation of social conduct" by intensifying regional development.

Cuba to Have More Elderly than Kids by 2020

Unlike some third world countries that spawn offspring uncontrollably and have their older generation die off from unattended infirmities, Cuba's population pyramid is inverted, a top heavy top.

This because of free state-subsidized abortion on demand (who wants another mouth to feed? who wants to multiply necessities?). And because of the free health care system that focuses on prevention.

Readily accessible medical attention and healthy lifestyles have given Cuba the world's oldest population.

In fact, the population is now decreasing.

So many people have not had children that they are now worried about who will take care of them in their golden years.