Economist Elías Amor has criticized the 176 reforms approved by the Cuban regime in 2026, including the new Housing Law 187, as "missed opportunities for the economy to escape a black hole it won't be able to get out of." He made this statement emphatically during a live interview with journalist Tania Costa.
The comment was prompted by a viewer's remark summarizing the sentiments of many Cubans abroad: "67 years without self-criticism or change. The Castro family and their cronies get rich by stealing."
Amor took this opportunity to expand his critique to the entire package of measures the Communist Party's Central Committee endorsed during an extraordinary session on June 17 and 18, 2026, subsequently ratified by the National Assembly.
Comparing Reforms to Past Failures
"The so-called 176 transformations are clearly akin to the 'Ordering Task,' measures that lead nowhere," the economist asserted, drawing a direct comparison to the program launched on January 1, 2021, which promised currency unification and price regulation but resulted in an estimated inflation rate of 739.6% that year.
This is not a trivial comparison. The Cuban government itself admitted in December 2023 that the 'Ordering Task' failed to meet its objectives. For Amor, history is repeating itself: "Despite claims of organizing, they were destroying the economy."
Housing Law 187: More Control, Less Reform
The new Housing Law 187, published in the Official Gazette on October 14, 2026, and set to take effect on October 21, is the immediate backdrop of this conversation. The law allows ownership of up to two urban properties, introduces housing cooperatives, removes property confiscation for emigrants, and opens transactions to foreigners.
However, Amor deems it "another missed opportunity for housing sector reforms," believing it maintains excessive state control, fails to amend the 2019 Constitution to allow mortgages, and excludes both private banks and direct foreign investment.
An Unsustainable Economic Situation
The economist's assessment is set against a dire macroeconomic backdrop. The National Office of Statistics and Information reported that Cuba's annual inflation rate reached 28.5% in September 2026, and Amor predicts it will close the year between 35% and 40%, a rate he describes as "absolutely unsustainable."
In previous analyses, Amor warned that Cuban reforms serve more as bargaining chips with the United States than as genuine economic transitions, noting that only 21% of the Guidelines approved at the VI Communist Party Congress in 2011 had been implemented by 2018.
According to Amor, the pattern remains unchanged: announcements of change without real liberalization, with the State retaining control over every mechanism while the Cuban people bear the brunt. "The Cuban people will pay dearly," the economist concluded.
Economic Reforms and Their Impact in Cuba
What are the key criticisms of the 176 reforms approved in Cuba in 2026?
Economist Elías Amor criticizes these reforms as missed opportunities, arguing they won't help the Cuban economy escape its dire situation. He compares them to the failed 'Ordering Task' of 2021, which led to severe inflation.
What changes does Housing Law 187 introduce?
Housing Law 187 allows ownership of up to two urban properties, introduces housing cooperatives, removes property confiscation for emigrants, and opens transactions to foreigners. However, it has been criticized for maintaining excessive state control.
How has Cuba's inflation rate been affected by recent reforms?
Cuba's inflation rate reached 28.5% in September 2026, with projections to close the year between 35% and 40%. This is seen as unsustainable, reflecting the failure of recent economic measures.