B1 – Intermediate
Since 1959, businesses in Cuba have been owned by the state. After a very long time, Cubans will be able to legally own a private business again.
Read the article about the changes in owning businesses and the economy in Cuba.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2108/210810-cuba-business-4.html
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think about this change?
- This change was possible because of the people’s protests. Do you think that the people have succeeded in getting what they were demanding from the government? Explain.
- Is it a good or a bad thing when businesses are owned by the state? Explain.
- Do you think that Cuba’s economy will start recovering now? Elaborate.
- At this moment, what are people protesting for in your country?
6 replies on “Cuba Allows Owning of Private Businesses”
What do you think about this change?
It is a first step to improve the lives Cuba´s people and to increase the economy.
This change was possible because of the people’s protests. Do you think that the people have succeeded in getting what they were demanding from the government? Explain.
No, the people’s protests were looking for solutions to cover basic needs. These measure will have their effect in the medium term, not immediate.
Is it a good or a bad thing when businesses are owned by the state? Explain.
It is a good thing when business have benefits although the owner were private or the state.
Do you think that Cuba’s economy will start recovering now? Elaborate.
I hope that is the case. I think this opening will bring investment. It is a country that, having been so isolated for so long, has many things to do to modernize.
At this moment, what are people protesting for in your country?
The protests in Spain focus on: Health, the rights of officials, ecology, against the government… But in general the protests in Spain do not have a great impact. Except for 15 M.
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1. What do you think about this change?
I think it is a good change because you can´t be at end of something, it´s good to be in the middle point. Having your own businesses is as good as have the companies in hand of states.
2. This change was possible because of the people’s protests. Do you think that the people have succeeded in getting what they were demanding from the government? Explain.
They have not got all things they demanded but i thing that protests can be very helpful because it can solve the problem at least for a while. It´s a warning call to the goverment. Goverment realizes that they must change their actions.
3. Is it a good or a bad thing when businesses are owned by the state? Explain.
I think that a balance should be the best option. Like I have said before, if some companies are owned by state it has many advantages because of this, the prices can be regulated. But, some experiences, like this one, says that if the states has all control it can be dangerous.
4. Do you think that Cuba’s economy will start recovering now? Elaborate.
Yes, when the pandemic ends they will start recovering because i think that country has people who work hard and it has many infrastructures like sugar production.
5. At this moment, what are people protesting for in your country?
Several topics, for example, workings conditions in some fields like medicine, agriculture.
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What do you think about this change?
From my point of view, I could say that managing your own business is better than be managed by others. This way you can see by yourself that your business’ profit is directly impacted by the effort you put on it. Otherwise is not that clear and you don’t exactly where is going the result of your efforts.
This change was possible because of the people’s protests. Do you think that the people have succeeded in getting what they were demanding from the government? Explain.
Based on my experience, it’s widely proved that protesting is a negotiation tool like any other. People cannot force governments to decide exactly what they demand, except on rare occasions, and that’s why after protesting, protesters and government reach to a intermediate point of agreement in which both parts are rarely fully satisfied, but it somehow solves the situation at least for a while.
Is it a good or a bad thing when businesses are owned by the state? Explain.
I could say that in theory is a good thing provided that the state would look after its people and, therefore, could regulate the price of certain key infrastructures. But once more, experience has shown that usually is not that way, but instead is only a means to enrich a few politicians.
Do you think that Cuba’s economy will start recovering now? Elaborate.
I don’t know anything about economics but I could say that since Cuba is still an unexplored market, it could be mutually beneficial for them and the rest of the globe to be opened to new opportunities, and this involves investing, which usually lead to enrichment.
At this moment, what are people protesting for in your country?
There are a few ongoing protests, the most noticeable is about people that are tired of the pandemic situation and they demand more efficient measures to stem spreading the virus. I guess other protests are secondary or, at least, they are not being given the attention they deserve.
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