Development Economics
Mercatus Events

Island Hoping: US-Cuba Policy A Debate

Oct 04, 2007
12:00pm – 1:30pm
B-339 Rayburn House Office Building

Featuring:

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)

Tim Roemer (D-IN)
Former Congressman 

Mauricio Claver Carone
Executive Director
Cuba Democracy Advocates 


It appears Father Time is succeeding in doing something US Presidents have tried to accomplish for decades; remove Fidel Castro from power.  Despite the policies of multiple

U.S. Presidents and the fact that he has passed along power to his brother, Fidel Castro's influence on government policy remains strong. Although US policymakers agree that the establishment of a Cuban liberal political and economic system is an important goal, there are multiple opinions over the best way to accomplish it.

While one side argues that the current trade and travel embargo is an effective method of breaking down the Castro regime, the other side argues in favor of pushing economic growth through trade as being more effective. The US-Cuba debate blurs political lines, yet carries profound implications for the Cuban people as well as US multilateral relations. 

To explore those implications, the MercatusCenter at GeorgeMasonUniversity , in conjunction with the Center for National Policy, will host a special symposium featuring Rep. Jeff Flake, former congressman Tim Roemer and Mauricio Claver Carone of Cuba Democracy Advocates.  This discussion will seek to answer the following questions:

  • What are the costs and benefits of the current US-Cuba policy? How successful is it in bringing about the desired change in Cuba ?
  • What are the costs and benefits of opening up Cuba as a trading partner? Would lifting the travel ban help Cuban citizens?
  • How can U.S. public policy encourage a free and prosperous Cuba in the years after Fidel Castro?
Development Economics