Where the money's at...

MSNBC's resident OTS™ survivor got the skinny on how the dollars flow in Cuba. Seems the cash cow is in tips and such in the part of the Cuban tourist industry that can't be regulated by the government.

Now Cuban parents must deal with children who no longer aspire to become teachers or dentists, and instead covet bellhop jobs.

I don't blame them when a doctor makes $20 a month and a band working for tips can make $1,000 a month. It's an upside down world.

Keep in mind, the bucks are only really made if the exchange is under the table. The band that passes a hat around on the street corner, the sketch artist, etc... If you are officially employed in the industry, you'll receive a very small fraction of what the government will charge a tourist for your services, the balance going to the Cuban government for its "social" programs.

Posted by Scott at January 27, 2004 12:37 PM

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