Ricardo Torres-Pérez is a research fellow and adjunct professor at the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University in Washington DC, where he is now leading a network of emerging Cuban scholars. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Havana and was a professor at the Centro de Estudios de la Economía Cubana (CEEC). He has received fellowships from Harvard University, Columbia University, American University, Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle, and Finland’s Central Bank. He has published several books and articles in international journals. He was the chief editor of the series “Miradas a la Economía Cubana”. He is also part of the editorial board of the International Journal of Cuban Studies. He has testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission and is frequently cited in print and broadcast media. He develops his research around economic development and system reform, in Cuba and Latin America.