Jorge F. Pérez-López

Refugee remittances: conceptual issues and the Cuban and Nicaraguan experiences.

This article assesses the notion that the determinants of remittances generated by refugee flows, particularly from Communist-inspired systems, are different from those associated with labor migrations. Labor migration, by definition, involves the voluntary departure from the home country in search of better economic options, whereas refugees, including those from communist systems, depart their homelands for a combination of political and economic reasons. These differences have a major bearing on how labor migrants and refugees perceive their relationship with countries of origin. The propensity of labor migrants to dissociate themselves from the home country is considerably less than among refugees whose perceptions are mediated by opposition to the ruling regime and other factors, such as political relations between refugee-sending and refugee-receiving countries and whether or not there has been a regime change or one is expected to occur. The conceptual issues elaborated here are based on the Cuban-American experience, but also reflect an assessment of Nicaraguan emigration during the 1980s.

The Determinants of Hispanic Remittances: An Exploration Using U.S. Census Data

This article explores whether a data set on demographic and economic characteristics of Hispanic-origin persons in the United States from the 1990 U.S. Population Census can inform the discussion on the detenninants of remittances from this population to selected Latin American and Caribbean countries. Parts I and 2 of the article discuss available data on remittances flows to selected Latin American countries and on the characteristics of persons of Hispanic onigin in the United States, respectively. Part 3 reviews the literature on the determinants of remittances. Part 4 discusses demographic and economic characteristics of migrants from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico residing in the United States in 1990. Part 5 uses graphic and simple statistical techniques to test some hypotheses regarding remittances-sending behavior The explorations confirmed several propositionsfrom the literature regarding the determinants of remittances, particularly the importance of household, family, or personal income.

Labor migration and offshore assembly in the socialist world: the Cuban experience.

This article analyzes labor flows from Cuba to Eastern Europe (East Germany Czechoslovakia and Hungary) and to the Soviet Union during the 1980s; it also examines the phenomenon of Soviet assembly operations on the island. The analysis suggests that these labor flows were largely motivated by factors similar to those that drive labor migration in the West--notably labor complementarities arising from differential rates of labor force growth and the tendency among native workers to avoid certain types of jobs. (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA) (EXCERPT)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF CUBA'S DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY DURING THE SPECIAL PERIOD

In August 1990, Cuba entered what has been called a ’special period in time of peace’ (periodo especial en tiempo de paz), a severe economic crisis triggered by the disruptions in imports of oil and other raw materials from socialist countries. During the special period the Cuban government opened up virtually its entire economy to FDI, emphasizing a rich natural resource base, a well-trained and docile labor force, and a government partner that is willing to make deals that will result in substantial profit margins for foreign investors. This chapter examines Cuba’s development strategy during the special period, focusing on case studies of joint ventures in the tourism, nickel mining, and oil production sectors. It highlights the role of foreign investment in these sectors and sets out some of the environmental implications.

Conflict and Cooperation in U.S.-Mexican Labor Relations: The North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation

This paper: (1) describes the institutions and mechanisms that have been created in North America under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) to address labor standards issues as free trade and closer economic cooperation proceeds; and (2) provides an interim assessment of the performance of those institutions and mechanisms. The paper concludes that the experiences of the first eighteen months of implementation of the NAALC have been very positive, with the key institutions fully operational and the mechanisms already beginning to generate cooperative activities and a tripartite dialogue that is bound to have a positive impact on the well being of workers of all three nations.

MFN Tariff Treatment of Imports from China: Effects on U.S. Employment

Abstract This article estimates the effects on U.S. output and employment of granting most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff treatment to imports from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). Import demand elasticities are used to estimate changes in imports resulting from the lower tariff rates. A highly disaggregated U.S. input-output table and labor-output ratios are used to convert changes in imports into changes in domestic output and employment at a detailed sectorial level. U.S. import restraints on the textile and apparel industry are incorporated into the analysis. The article explores the implications of increased imports from the PRC for U.S., PRC, and LDC policy makers.

Sugar and structural change in the Cuban economy

Abstract Diversification of the economy away from sugar was high among the economic priorities of the Cuban revolutionary government in power since 1959. This essay explores whether sugars role in the structure of the economy has in fact changed significantly in the last 25 years or so by examining three aspects of structural change: specialization in production, export concentration, and effects of changes in world sugar market prices on economic growth. The analysis suggests that policies of the revolutionary government have had a marginal impact in reducing sugars role. Plans to increase sugar production and exports through the end of the century virtually assure that sugar will continue to play a predominant role in the economy.

South-South cooperation: Cuban technical assistance to developing countries in sugar production

Abstract Cubas long tradition as a sugar producer and commitment to the future of the industry uniquely qualify it to assist Third World nations in the development of their sugar industries. This report reviews the range of Cuban internationalist civilian assistance to developing countries, and then illustrates Cuban assistance to foreign sugar industries with reference to seven African and Central American countries. Foreign policy, rather than commercial advantage, seems to be the dominant consideration. The impact of Cuban assistance on world sugar production appears to have been marginal to date, but this could change.