Outbreak of commonsense in Cuba

From today's FT:

Cuba ... is looking at watering down the generous social welfare system that has been a cornerstone of its economy for nearly 50 years, according to a senior government official.

Alfredo Jam, head of macro-economic analysis in the economy ministry, told the Financial Times that Cubans had been "overprotected" by a system that subsidised food costs and limited the amount people could earn, prompting labour shortages in important industries. "We can't give people so much security with their income that it affects their willingness to work," Mr Jam said. "We can have equality in access to education and health but not in equality of income." ...

Under Cuba's new president, Raúl Castro, the former leader's younger brother, the country has eased restrictions on bonuses that can be paid to workers and lifted bans on products such as mobile phones and DVD players. Mr Castro also decentralised the country's agricultural system and said idle land would be offered to co-operatives and private farmers to lower dependency on imported food.