Argentina isn't the cheapest

[Redpossum]

Anyone can pay someone what they like why does it have to be minumum wage . If you have any semblance of conscience you would pay a liveable wage as to create a better world

Pffffft!

Supply & demand

 

[earlyretirement]

I keep a spreadsheet to rate from 1 to 10 al the items below for other cities v/s Buenos Aires. BA comes always on top (I speak Spanish) . Give it a Try (Not Argentina but BA)

1. Language
2. Culture
3. Cosmopolitan city
4. Health system
5. Connectivity
6. Weather
7. School system
8. Ethnicity
9. Migration Policies
10. Cost of Living

PD: Thailand is Great ..But the culture and language makes it harder to participate in the local culture or see Thai shows, or relate to locals. I visited Thailand at least 8 times . BKK, Chiang Mai/Rai, Pattaya, Phuket, etc.

This is spot on target and also similar to my list Rich One. For me it has to have ALL of these things. I'd probably put health care more at the top of my list of importance now that I am having health issues. Previously I had it where you did but as people get older they need to prioritize that closer to the top and I've found that Argentina Is EXCELLENT!

I totally agree with you about the difficulty with Thailand. It's interesting seeing people that have like minded thoughts. To me that would be the toughest thing about Thailand even though I'm totally in love with the culture, way of life, food and the people there.

My, but you do have an impressive list of accomplishments, ER. You have been everywhere and done everything.

Thank you Redpossum. I'm truly blessed to have lived an incredible life. I'm currently writing an autobiography about my life. Some in Hollywood have expressed an interest in me writing a book, selling a screen play and making a Hollywood movie about my life. So you could see that in the next few years. I do know NO ONE has lived the type of life I've lived. I'm lucky.

Anyone can pay someone what they like why does it have to be minumum wage . If you have any semblance of conscience you would pay a liveable wage as to create a better world

Yes, I agree with you Perry. I've never paid any of my employees minimum wage. NEVER. I totally agree with you that you MUST pay people a living wage. I don't care what country you are in. If Milei wins, I'm getting ready to gear up and start up operations again in Argentina. I never thought I'd do a large company there again but I see some opportunities now. I will pay my employees a living wage just like I always have done.

Are you paying your maid 800 USD per month, or is that just a general observation?

No, I don't have any full time maids now in Buenos Aires. I was fortunate to have sold off almost all my properties at the peak of the Buenos Aires real estate market and timed it perfectly. I do own a few units but I pay them by the hour. My wife pays them 3 X what the normal rate is. Plus help them out with loans and stuff.

When were you emplying maids for U$S 800? They must be making U$S 200 or less now.

This was back from 2002 to about 2010. The exchange rate was normal back them from 3 pesos to $1 US to about $4.5 pesos to $1 if I recall correctly. I also paid OSDE healthcare benefits for ALL employees which is pretty unheard of in Buenos Aires.

You can see a historical price of exchange rate here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_exchange_rates_of_Argentine_currency

For frame of reference I pay my Mexican maid $250 US dollars for 8 hours here in San Diego. It's nuts! But that's how m much they charge. And minimum wages at places like In N Out where I live they are paying these kids $20 US dollar per hour!! My friend correctly joked the other day, the maid is making more than working at fast food! LOL. Sad but true. After COVID it's NOT easy to find good maids. And I live less than 1 hour from the border. Such is the state in the USA now.

 

[earlyretirement]

Minimum wage is slavery and those who pay it because they can must look inside their conscience . In Bariloche minimum wages are 50 % higher than capital federal and maids seem much happier there.

I totally agree with you. Look on Twitter and you'll read obscene posts by law firms trying to get employees. Some of them are less than $185 US per MONTH! This is crazy. I offered someone $500 US to accept it, and blog about it and then out the law firm (the law firm posted anonymously). I'd serious pay someone $500 US to accept the job and blog about it for a month and then quit.

 

[wrangler]

Why is it wishful thinking? Argentina wouldn't be the first country to do so. And why do you call people 'stupid' for thinking that it is possible? Were you here during the Menem 1 peso-1 dollar years? Many people didn't believe that could happen. Unfortunately the government did not respect the convertability law. Dollarisation would force compliance.

It's wishful thinking because, Milei, Should he be elected, he won't be a tsar. He's unlikely to have the support necessary to be able to accomplish it. At a time when the dollar is losing value world wide, I don't think it is in the best interest of Argentina to dollarize. I don't think Argentina can make all the fiscal adjustments necessary in order for dollarization to work. Ecuador has had there share of problems with it, although I will admit some good things have come out of it as well. You say it would force compliance, at what cost? This is not 20 years ago, when the dollar was much stronger. We are heading into a multipolar world. I think that Argentina should wait and not rush into any decisions.

 

[Redpossum]

Allow me to point out one more issue with dollarisation - the need for change.

If the economy is going to run on dollars, there will be a huge need for small bills - 1, 5, 10, 20 dollar bills, and the coins. HDP, the tens of tons of dimes and quarters that will be needed, if not hundreds of tons. On top of the 30-50 billion USD needed for the rest of the process, consider how many billions worth of small bills & coins will be needed if this is going to actually work. Consider both the monetary value and the weight and volume. I know the Milei supporters will try to handwave this aside, but the logistical considerations are enormous.

 

[lunar]

If the economy is going to run on dollars, there will be a huge need for small bills - 1, 5, 10, 20 dollar bills, and the coins. HDP, the tens of tons of dimes and quarters that will be needed, if not hundreds of tons.

You can make everyone to pay using debit cards. It's better for collecting taxes.

Cash is such an atavism, anyway

 

[Redpossum]

You can make everyone to pay using debit cards. It's better for collecting taxes.

Cash is such an atavism, anyway

A sadly ageist reply, which takes no consideration of seniors, even if we ignore all the other objections to such a scheme.

What happens when the store or kiosk has no net connection, as frequently happens here. Or when the power is off. Nobody can buy anything.
There are multiple serious flaws in such a flippantly suggested idea.

 

[wrangler]

A sadly ageist reply, which takes no consideration of seniors, even if we ignore all the other objections to such a scheme.

What happens when the store or kiosk has no net connection, as frequently happens here. Or when the power is off. Nobody can buy anything.
There are multiple serious flaws in such a flippantly suggested idea.

lamentably young people have no brains. The only way they learn is by going through hard times. Should Milei win, they will learn not to vote for such a character again, but they want to learn.

 

[lunar]

A sadly ageist reply, which takes no consideration of seniors,

During the pandemic, seniors adapted to using debit cards and electronic wallets, as there were no other options. Pension payments were made electronically, either to a bank account or to a digital wallet.

What happens when the store or kiosk has no net connection, as frequently happens here. Or when the power is off. Nobody can buy anything.

If the power is out for so long that you can't delay your shopping, you probably should just be waiting for rescue helicopters.

 

[lunar]

lamentably young people have no brains. The only way they learn is by going through hard times. Should Milei win, they will learn not to vote for such a character again, but they want to learn.

While I don't believe dollarization is a wise move, technical challenges such as a lack of small bills or coins won't be the dealbreaker.