Fidel Castro is dead at age 90. In power for more than a half century, his regime ruled the last planned socialist economy. 

Casey Mulligan of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about life in Cuba.

Hoover Institution fellow Larry Diamond talks about how the the early years of the 21st century might be viewed historically as the beginning of the decline of democracy itself. Through his research, Diamond has found that 27 countries experienced a breakdown in democracy between 2000 and 2015, while authoritarian governments have become increasingly emboldened and locked down. Democracy, Diamond notes, seems to have lost its appeal.