Four Year Plan (Cuba)

The Four Year Plan was a plan developed by Che Guevara and embraced by various Cuban officials in the economic planning commission JUCEPLAN. The plan was intended to be a classic soviet five year plan, but was reduced to four years, so it would conclude at the same date as other Eastern Bloc five year plans. The plan was to be carried out from 1962 to 1965, but was abandoned prematurely in 1964.^[1][2][3]

The plan supposed that Cuba could quickly deemphasize the importance of sugar cultivation in its economy, and instead become a diverse industrial economy. According to Guevara, through the nationalization of industries, and a strong moral enthusiasm for labor taught to the working class, Cuba could rapidly industrialize.^[3][4][5] The implementation of the plan resulted in economic crisis. Sugar was Cuba's most lucrative export, and by 1962, sugar exports were in steep decline. The use of moral rewards to compensate hard work also did not lead to increased productivity, but instead to increased worker absenteeism.^[3][4] By the end of 1962, the economic crisis would spark a heated debate in Cuba regarding the future of economic planning.^[6]