In a Rare Survey, Cubans Express a Hunger for Economic Growth<br />Of those interviewed, 55 percent felt that better relations with the United States<br />would be a good thing, while only 3 percent felt it would be mostly bad.<br />Over half of those Cubans interviewed said they would like to leave the country if given a chance,<br />and 70 percent of those individuals said they would move to the United States if they could.<br />Eight of 10 Cubans interviewed felt tourism to the country should be increased,<br />and 95 percent said having a high level of economic growth was an extremely or very important goal.<br />For the Cuban state, led by Raúl Castro, allowing entrepreneurs to open small businesses, normalizing relations with the United States<br />and expanding tourism have been central to the country’s hunt for economic growth.<br />These are some of the predominant sentiments expressed in a rare survey of 840 Cubans conducted in the country late last<br />year by an independent research group, asking for opinions on topics from free speech to diplomatic ties to crime.<br />The interviews were conducted in person in October<br />and November, before the inauguration of President Trump, who has threatened to rescind President Obama’s 2014 decision to restore diplomatic ties between the nations.
