Argentines bought a fifth less at food and drink stores in December

[Smurf]

Ireland has no longer free education since years, a healthcare waiting list for basic services for years, a skills shortage for Doctors and teachers as they have all left for Oz and elsewhere and a terrible social security system. There are some benefits for children but no better than any other EU country. The cost of living and rental homes has crisis status. The country is attractive mainly due language, jobs on the short term

 

[SinPulgas]

Those small independent neighborhood businesses are a nice idea but unfortunately belong to another era. One of the reasons Argentina is in the economic mess it is in is due these inefficient business models and practice. For Argentina to move forward economically these types of businesses will need to bite the dust sadly.

Well, it may take some time in places like the province of Buenos Aires -- where 40% of the country's population lives -- where they make laws (recently upheld by the supreme corte) that prevent Farmacity from operating in the entire province.

 

[FrankPintor]

Ireland has no longer free education since years, a healthcare waiting list for basic services for years, a skills shortage for Doctors and teachers as they have all left for Oz and elsewhere and a terrible social security system. There are some benefits for children but no better than any other EU country. The cost of living and rental homes has crisis status. The country is attractive mainly due language, jobs on the short term

I guess the disappearance of free education at all levels will come as a surprise to my son, who graduated in Ireland just before the pandemic.

In any case, I'm not trying to demonstrate that Ireland is better than any other EU country (most of which have similar tax, social security, and health regimes), Milei has singled Ireland out as where he wants Argentina to be, despite wanting to dismantle the education and health systems here.

From our favourite local newspaper: (https://www.pagina12.com.ar/612512-irlanda-modelo-de-los-libertarios)

"What is Ireland really like?

The Irish State actively intervenes in the economy. Libertarians take it as a model in tax matters. But, to cite some examples, the value added tax (VAT) is generally higher than in Argentina (23 percent versus 21 percent); The same occurs with taxes on workers, where it reaches 52 percent of income, while in Argentina the maximum rate is 35 percent. In short, the tax pressure reaches 21.5 percent, that is, it is far from the country with the least tax pressure, which is Nigeria with 5.5 percent of GDP.

Another issue that libertarians put on the agenda is the labor issue. In Ireland, the State is present with two types of unemployment insurance: a subsidy and assistance. The subsidy is based on contributions paid by workers during their employment in Ireland or any country in the European community, and lasts up to 15 months. But those who are not eligible to receive the subsidy or who have exhausted their entitlement receive unemployment assistance for as long as necessary, as long as they meet certain requirements, such as being totally unemployed for at least three days in any six consecutive day period, meet a means test (must be below a certain level), be able to work, be between 18 and 66 years old and have a recognized address.

In the model country for libertarians, social plans are even more extensive than in Argentina. The Irish State also intervenes through public companies, such as the public broadcasting corporation, better known as RTE, whose mission is to enrich Irish life with content that challenges, educates and entertains, as stated on its official website; or the national drinking water services company Uisce Éireann, which is responsible for the operation of all public water and wastewater services. In the latter case, drinking water is provided free of charge to homes. Despite libertarians, water in Ireland is free for the entire population.

Education and health are free not only for Irish but also for all members of the European community. In education, the State carries out the Equal Opportunities in Schools (DEIS) plan, a national educational inclusion policy, aimed at disadvantaged children, which is developed through a standardized system that identifies the socioeconomic level of schools, and then , resources and support are offered to schools through an integrated School Support Program based on their level of need. Some of the initiatives being carried out are: the professionalization of principals and teachers, implementation of measures to address literacy and numeracy deficits, additional funding for books and libraries, among others.

According to local media, in Ireland there is a housing crisis which is why most young people want to leave the country. The State also intervenes in this aspect, promoting a plan that plans to build 33,000 new homes per year until 2030. At the same time, it launched a social housing rental plan and an initiative to inhabit coastal areas offering subsidies of 50 thousand euros (with possibility of extending to an additional 20 thousand) to repopulate 20 islands on the western coast. The Irish State is not only present but also in debt, with more than 43 thousand euros per person (just below Singapore).

Ireland, the supposed libertarian model, does not function as such since there is strong state intervention. Libertarians change model countries and say that they grow when they get closer to their ideas. The inexplicable thing is why if extreme economic liberalization and the withdrawal of the State supposedly lead to better living conditions, this model is not applied in any country in the world".

This probably needed to be in a different thread.

 

[FrankPintor]

Well, it may take some time in places like the province of Buenos Aires -- where 40% of the country's population lives -- where they make laws (recently upheld by the supreme corte) that prevent Farmacity from operating in the entire province.

I should see how the Farmatodo is here in Pilar. At least the once I know in Colombia and Venezuela have a very similar model to Farmacity here.

If I understand correctly, the reason Farmacity isn't allowed in PBA is because of a requirement to have a qualified pharmacist on the premises?

 

[SinPulgas]

I should see how the Farmatodo is here in Pilar. At least the once I know in Colombia and Venezuela have a very similar model to Farmacity here.

If I understand correctly, the reason Farmacity isn't allowed in PBA is because of a requirement to have a qualified pharmacist on the premises?

Revés para Farmacity: no podrá llegar a la provincia de Buenos Aires, dice la Corte

 

[FrankPintor]

Revés para Farmacity: no podrá llegar a la provincia de Buenos Aires, dice la Corte

ok, got it:

"In the ruling, judges Elena Highton de Nolasco, Ricardo Lorenzetti and Martín Irurzunla (judge Mirta Gladis Sotelo de Andreu voted in dissent) stated that the decision is made "limited to requiring the exercise of technical direction by a pharmacist" and not so to "a company that owns a pharmacy."

So my understanding was correct. To me it seems like a very antiquated regulation, something that could be usefully eliminated by Milei's omnibus law (was that in there?). In other countries there's a concept of a "compounding pharmacy" where a qualified pharmacist can mix medications as required by a prescription, and normal pharmacies where you get standard off the shelf medications.

 

[SinPulgas]

ok, got it:

"In the ruling, judges Elena Highton de Nolasco, Ricardo Lorenzetti and Martín Irurzunla (judge Mirta Gladis Sotelo de Andreu voted in dissent) stated that the decision is made "limited to requiring the exercise of technical direction by a pharmacist" and not so to "a company that owns a pharmacy."

There was that, and also this:

También se consideró que la exclusión de las sociedades anónimas como sujetos que pueden ser propietarios de establecimientos farmacéuticos en el territorio de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, constituye una reglamentación razonable, pues no vulnera la libertad de comercio ni el derecho a la igualdad.

Los artículos 3° y 14 de la Ley 10.606 de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, que regula la propiedad de los establecimientos farmacéuticos; prohíbe que sus titulares sean sociedades anónimas, como es el caso de Farmacity.

...To me it seems like a very antiquated regulation...

Do ya think!

...something that could be usefully eliminated by Milei's omnibus law (was that in there?)...

He can't change or eliminate provincial laws (unless he can prove that they're unconstitutional). I'm sure they're trying to figure a way around that (such as the proposed changes to the voting laws, which in turn might get different legislators into the PBA; they're taking those laws out of package now, though; too much resistance).

In other countries there's a concept of a "compounding pharmacy" where a qualified pharmacist can mix medications as required by a prescription, and normal pharmacies where you get standard off the shelf medications.

There are new laws in the omnibus package for allowing the sale of off-the-shelf medications in other places besides pharmacies. Also for requiring doctors to write prescriptions only by drug name, and not brand name. They're up in arms about that one.