The Cuban economist Pedro Monreal González has raised concerns on his Facebook page, "El Estado como tal," by presenting two critical analyses of the 176 economic measures approved by the National Assembly on June 19. Monreal warns that crucial aspects of this plan remain "unclear" and that its implementation might worsen the living conditions of Cubans without official acknowledgment from the regime.
In his first analysis released this Thursday, Monreal highlights the adjustment of relative prices as the most obscure aspect of these economic measures. "A key area in the official list of 176 measures remains nebulous: the potential effects of altering relative prices. Simply mentioning actions like exchange rates, wages, and price setting doesn’t provide insight into their dynamics," he stated.
Supporting his warning, Monreal refers to the failure of the January 2021 "Monetary Reordering," which promised price stabilization and currency unification but instead led to skyrocketing inflation. "The swift failure of the 'reordering' was precisely because those prices deviated from the intended design," he noted.
Monreal identifies four measures as particularly risky when combined: measures 99 and 100 fail to specify the exchange rate regime or the reference for devaluation; measure 9 ties state wages to the "financial capacity" of enterprises; and measures 117 and 118—decentralization and market-referenced price formation—could lead to increased basic goods costs.
"The combination of various measures could exacerbate the decline in citizens' well-being. While it’s debatable whether this outcome is unavoidable, there’s no official communication warning that such deterioration might be an initial phase of implementing 'the 176,'" he emphasized, highlighting that the regime presents the package as a solution to the crisis, not as a potential source of further deterioration.
Ambiguities in Share Purchases
In a second analysis published on Friday, Monreal points to another vague area: the purchase of shares in state enterprises converted into commercial entities. "The lack of clarity in the 176 measures regarding the purchase of shares or stakes in state enterprises transformed into commercial companies is notable. Does this include selling stakes to the workers of these companies?" he questioned.
Measure 17 states that the government will maintain a majority presence in strategic sectors and that individuals can also acquire stakes "as determined gradually," a phrase lacking precise timelines and conditions, illustrating the vagueness Monreal criticizes.
Economic Context and Public Reaction
This isn’t Monreal’s first warning about the economic package. On June 26, he described the 176 measures as a "monstrous" or "deformed hybrid," and a few days earlier, on June 20, he labeled measure 8 as "anti-worker" for subordinating state workers’ wages to the financial capacity of companies.
These critiques come amid Cuba's worst economic crisis in decades: an accumulated contraction of over 26% since 2020, power outages lasting between twenty and forty hours, real inflation nearing 70% in informal markets, and an average salary of merely $15 per month. Economist Javier Pérez Capdevila estimates that meeting basic needs requires at least 96,060 pesos monthly, compared to an average salary that doesn’t exceed 7,000 pesos.
The collapse of public services exacerbates this reality. In Havana, only 44 of the 106 garbage trucks were operational in February 2026, while the capital produced between 24,000 and 30,000 cubic meters of waste daily. Cuba reported tens of thousands of dengue cases at the end of 2025, linked to mosquito proliferation due to accumulated garbage. A Cuban internet user bitterly summarized the situation in reaction to the official release of the measures: "Download them and use the paper for warmth and light."
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) forecasts a 6.5% decline in Cuba's GDP in 2026, the worst in Latin America, with a cumulative contraction of 10.3% over 2025-2026. Against this backdrop, Monreal insists that the regime cannot continue to present the 176 measures as a cure-all without warning the population that their implementation might initially lead to a widespread and rapid deterioration in living conditions.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
What are the 176 economic measures in Cuba?
The 176 economic measures are a series of policies approved by the Cuban National Assembly aimed at restructuring the economy. They include changes in pricing, currency exchange, and the decentralization of economic activities, among other reforms.
Why is Pedro Monreal critical of these measures?
Pedro Monreal criticizes these measures due to their lack of clarity and potential to exacerbate existing economic problems without official acknowledgment. He highlights uncertainties in price adjustments and the implications of share purchases in state enterprises.
What are the economic conditions in Cuba currently?
Cuba is experiencing a severe economic crisis with an accumulated economic contraction since 2020, high inflation, low average salaries, and a collapse in public services, all contributing to the difficult living conditions.