FELIPE PAZOS Y Sus Contribuciones a Cuba Y a América Latina

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FELIPE PAZOS Y Sus Contribuciones a Cuba Y a América Latina FELIPE PAZOS y sus Contribuciones a Cuba y a América Latina Estudios Especiales Número 1 Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy Washington, DC, 2001 ©2001 by the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE). Printed and bound in the United States of America. (ISBN 0-9729551-0-0) ASCE Publications may be purchased from: Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy P.O. Box 0567 McLean, Virginia 22101-0567 Email: [email protected] Information on availability of publications and book order forms are available at www.ascecuba.org. ÍNDICE PRÓLOGO . 1 VIDA Y OBRA EN CUBA Felipe Pazos y Roque: Su Curriculum Vitae . 3 Raúl Shelton La Contribución de Felipe Pazos a la Economía Cubana. 5 Gonzalo de la Pezuela La Dimensión Latinoamericana de los Estudios Cubanos de Pazos . 10 Jorge Salazar-Carrillo CONFERENCIA MAGISTRAL Felipe Pazos y la Democracia en América Latina . 13 Jaime Lusinchi CONTRIBUCIONES EN VENEZUELA Y EN AMÉRICA LATINA El Horizonte Abierto de la Obra de Felipe Pazos . 16 José Tomás Esteves Arria Los Dioses No Mueren Jóvenes . 23 Miguel Rodríguez Felipe Pazos . 25 Nelson Ortiz Felipe Pazos, Inflación y Realidad en América Latina . 26 Eduardo Mayobre APÉNDICES Problemas Económicos de Cuba en el Período de Transición . 29 Felipe Pazos Las Posibilidades Económicas de las Naciones Latinoamericanas y de Cuba . 37 Experiencias Personales, Familiares y Políticas sobre Felipe Pazos . 40 Coronel Ramón Barquin SOBRE LOS AUTORES . 42 iii PRÓLOGO Nos honra inaugurar esta serie de Estudios Especiales de la Association for the Study of Cuban Economy (ASCE) con las presentaciones de una sesión extraordinaria de la Asociación que se llevó a acabo en el ámbito de la Décima Primera Reunión Anual de ASCE, celebrada del 2 al 4 de agosto de 2001 en el Hotel Biltmore, Coral Gables, Florida. El objeto de la sesión extraordinaria de ASCE fue el honrar la memoria de Felipe Pazos y Roque, eminente eco- nomista cubano y latinoamericano, y reconocer algunos aspectos de su vida y contribuciones respecto a Cuba, Venezuela y América Latina. Los ponentes representan una amplia gama de personas con quienes Felipe estu- dió, trabajó y a quienes tuteló en su fecunda vida intelectual. También se presentaron testimonios personales, como el del Coronel Ramón Barquin, del cual se incluye un resumen en un apéndice. Le agradecemos al ex-Presidente de Venezuela, Dr. Jaime Lusinchi, que nos haya honrado con sus palabras y con su presencia. Igual extendemos nuestro agradecimiento a otros colegas cubanos y venezolanos así como a numerosos miembros de la familia de Felipe quienes viajaron a Miami para participar en nuestro evento. Felipe Pazos jugó un papel muy especial en ASCE. Cuando la organización se fundó en 1990, Felipe accedió a ser su Presidente Ex-Oficio, brindándole a la joven organización un punto de enlace con aquellos economistas profesionales que se formaron y trabajaron en la Cuba Republicana así como su prestigio como uno de los pen- sadores económicos más profundos de su generación. Felipe dictó la primera conferencia de la Cátedra Carlos F. Díaz Alejandro, establecida por ASCE para reconocer a otro desaparecido economista cubano de gran distin- ción discípulo de Felipe. Felipe también fue Presidente y fundador del Colegio de Economistas de Cuba y con- tinuó su relación con dicha institucióm en el exilio. Los editores hemos decido incluir la conferencia de Felipe dictada en diciembre de 1990 a la membresía de ASCE como un apéndice a esta monografía para destacar la constancia de Felipe en su pensamiento sobre Cuba y su futuro democrático y para resaltar la vigencia de su análisis y visión. La agenda del desarrollo es compleja y para acometerla es necesario una visión de futuro que incluya no sola- mente la dimensión económica sino también los aspectos sociales, políticos y culturales. Por eso también hemos incluido en un apéndice una entrevista periodística publicada por el Diario las Américas en 1957, recientemente después del exilio de Felipe. En esa entrevista Felipe expresa su opinión sobre la problemática cubana de cómo dar empleo a medio millón de desocupados y a los 60.000 mil que llegaban a la edad de trabajar cada año en esa época y su pensamiento sobre la integración de las economías de América Latina. En un renglón dedicado a ex- plicar su pensamiento sobre la política económica que seguiría el nuevo gobierno en Cuba después del cambio de régimen, Felipe expresa que “Cuba tiene que seguir una política prudente pero firme y sostenida, dirigida al fomento de nuevas industrias para el mercado interior.” En este respecto es de notar que aunque recomendaba una política de sustitución de importaciones él llama la atención sobre “una política prudente.” Más importan- te, como señala en su excelente ensayo en este volumen el profesor José Tomás Esteves, Felipe — demostrando una absoluta sinceridad y honestidad intelectual, dando la cara — ofrece excelentes aclaratorias de porque fra- casa en la América Latina la política de sustitución de importaciones. Las ideas de Pazos en este sentido quedan resumidas en la siguiente cita, “fuimos menos sagaces que los economistas y gobernantes asiáticos, tanto como los del Japón, como los de Corea, Taiwán, Hong Kong y Malasia que percibieron claramente la posibilidad de exportar manufacturas desde los comienzos de su proceso de desarrollo.” Para concluir, Felipe Pazos fue para nosotros un profesor de economía, pero también un maestro de doctrina política. Como bien señala el ex-presidente de Venezuela Dr. Jaime Lusinchi en su ensayo, “conciliar democra- cia y desarrollo fue el acicate de su pensamiento.” Durante su vida profesional y pública Felipe Pazos demostró un esfuerzo y dedicación constante por alcanzar un desarrollo económico dinámico y sustentable, estabilidad de precios, reducir la pobreza, la desigualdad de oportunidades y consolidar las instituciones democráticas. Jorge Pérez-López y Carlos N. Quijano Editores Felipe Pazos y Roque: Su Curriculum Vitae Raúl Shelton a preeminencia de Felipe Pazos en la historia de Cuba proviene de su amor a la Patria y su dimensión cultural, ya que contribuyó fundamentalmente al desarrollo cultural de L Cuba en lo económico y a la formación definitiva en el proceso de desarrollo político cubano a través de su labor como Presidente del Banco Nacional de Cuba. Felipe Pazos nació en 1912 y se fue desarrollando hasta llegar a ser un hombre de inagotable deseo de aprender. Tenía una gran curiosidad intelectual y una gran afición por los estudios de Economía. Estudió Leyes, llegando a graduarse de Derecho Civil en abril de 1937. Yo fui compañero de aula de Felipe Pazos en un curso de estudios nocturnos de tres años. Una concesión que se nos hacía por haber perdido años de estudio durante la dictadura de Machado, en que estuvo ce- rrado el recinto universitario. Esto se logró con la colaboración de los profesores que nos ofre- cían cursos que no eran de su especialidad. Por ejemplo, el Dr. Guerra López nos dió un curso de Economía Política; brillante, sobre el derecho como instrumento de justicia social. Felipe Pazos obtuvo el Premio Dolz, otorgado por sus altas calificaciones. Luego completó sus estudios económicos en Columbia University, en New York. Desde temprano se dedicó a los servicios públicos. Fue asesor de la Comisión de Fomento Na- cional (1941-42); Attaché Comercial de Cuba en Washington, en 1943; Delegado a la Confe- rencia de Agricultura y Alimentación en Hot Springs. Fue Jefe de la División Interamericana del Departamento de Investigaciones del Fondo Monetario Internacional en Washington. Delegado a la Conferencia de Bretton Woods; delegado suplente al Consejo Económico y So- cial de las Naciones Unidas; delegado cubano al Comité de Azúcar y Arroz del Consejo Mun- dial de Alimentos. Fue Fundador del Colegio de Economistas de Cuba y uno de sus Presiden- tes. En el aspecto docente, fue Profesor de Desarrollo Económico en la Universidad Santo Tomás de Villanueva; decano y profesor de la Escuela de Economía de la Universidad de Oriente. Pazos fue fundador del Banco Nacional de Cuba (1948-52), puesto al que renunció por no es- tar de acuerdo con el presidente Batista. Fue sustituído por el Dr. Martínez Sáenz. Pazos fue autor de varios libros y artículos en el campo económico, “El problema monetario de Cuba” en colaboración con el Dr. José Pérez Cubillas; “La economía cubana en el siglo XX”; “Desarrollo económico de la cultura latina”; “Desarrollo económico y estabilidad finan- 3 Felipe Pazos y sus Contribuciones a Cuba y a América Latina ciera”; “Inflación e inestabilidad de los cambios en la América Latina”; “Tésis del Movimiento 26 de Julio” con Regino Boti; “Desarrollo insuficiente y depauperación económica.” Además escribió gran número de ensayos y monografías en diferentes revistas de asuntos económicos. Felipe Pazos subió a la Sierra Maestra, guarida de Fidel Castro, donde se encontraba ya su hijo Javier. En febrero de 1957, Felipe Pazos y Javier lograron que Herbert Matthews, corresponsal del New York Times, entrevistara a Fidel Castro, desmintiendo la muerte de éste y dándole publicidad internacional. En julio de 1957, Felipe Pazos y Raúl Chibás, firmaron, conjuntamente, un manifiesto, ase- gurando que la intención de la revolución era implantar la Constitución de 1940 que había sido abrogada después del golpe de Batista en 1952. Esto conllevaba la promesa de una prensa libre y elecciones para elegir presidente. A la publicación de este manifiesto, Pazos se vió forza- do a abandonar la Isla. En enero de 1959, triunfante la revolución, fue nombrado el Dr. Manuel Urrutia Presidente de Cuba y Felipe Pazos, por segunda vez, fue nombrado Presidente del Banco Nacional.
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