Has Argentina Become Worse Or Better for Foreign Retirees recently?

[Dim Witty]

I agree. Russia is not communist, just totalitarian mafia state. Really the same for China, too. That said, Google AI says that Xi JingPing's is the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a position he has held since November 15, 2012. As the top leader of China, he also serves as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the President of the People's Republic of China

JM- I was responding to what you previously wrote, "Not even Xi Jingping is a Marxist. A Communist yes." SLDS

 

[SlowWalker]

From Google AI: The Argentine constitution guarantees the right to education as a fundamental right, establishing that it is free, public, and a shared responsibility between national and provincial governments. It provides for comprehensive primary education and reinforces equality of access to education at all levels, including universities.

Milei's requests to Congress are only excuses to delay / side-step funding for as long as possible. He hates public universities bc he couldn't handle the rigor of UBA so he had to go to a lesser private university, UB, which I went to as part of a (subsidized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) exchange program.

The audit is also a delaying tactic that everyone can see through. Also, the audit has nothing do with the funds received, but everything to do with the curriculum used, the courses taught, and the political ideologies of professors.

So since you accept Google AI, This is the response of it below. It is about funding and where money is spent ensuring its going to professors and students education not bloated administration and other stuff. As a taxpayer you really shouldn't have an issue with this. This should be standard across all departments etc.

AI Overview


President Javier Milei's administration is demanding comprehensive audits of Argentina’s public universities to investigate the use of public funds, arguing that the institutions are not transparent and are using "autonomy" to avoid accountability. This initiative is central to his government's attempt to cut public spending and eliminate what he terms "curros" (political scams). [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key Aspects of the Audit Request

• Targeting "Abnormal" Expenditures: The government claims it wants to ensure funding reaches students and professors, rather than being used for political militancy or non-academic purposes.
• SIGEN Investigation: The administration is pursuing audits through the Sindicatura General de la Nación (SIGEN) – the executive branch's internal audit body – arguing that universities have failed to show how their budgets are spent.
• Specific Allegations: Officials have accused universities, specifically the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), of mismanaging funds, pointing to high administrative costs compared to educational output.
• The 33 Billion Peso Debt: Reports indicate a demand for universities to justify or return approximately 33 billion pesos in previously granted subsidies due to lack of proper invoicing or accounting, (as reported by Reddit in May 2025). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The Dispute Over Audits

• Autonomy vs. Transparency: Public universities argue that they are already audited by their own internal mechanisms and that the national constitution grants them autonomy from the executive branch.
• Legal Challenges: The UBA and other institutions have rejected SIGEN's authority to audit them, arguing that only the Auditoría General de la Nación (AGN) — which answers to Congress — has that power, and have threatened to take the case to court.
• Political Context: The audit push is taking place amidst massive protests (May 2026) against government funding cuts, with protesters demanding that the administration comply with a law increasing the education budget. [1, 3]

Government Position

• Audit or No Funding: Milei has expressed that if universities refuse to be audited, it is because they have something to hide.
• 2026 Budget: The government states it will maintain zero deficit and expects to manage university funds by auditing expenditures to ensure efficiency.

Why didn't you address the many sources of inflationary pressures? It is only deficit spending that produces inflationary pressures?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Also, I wonder what all the gorilas would say if they were told no more government subsidies to maintain and improve all the beautiful parks and plazas in their glorious Barrio Norte / Recoleta / Palermo bc, you know, inflationary pressures. No president would ever tell them bc, you know, you don't pay your taxes.

Because increase in commodity pricing, tightening of labor market, increasing profit margins are not something the government controls. Additionally, I was trying to address the point that you have repeated numerous times about the power to print money or issue debt and the use of deficits.

Are the plazas and parks maintained by the federal government? If not, speak to the city or province about its funds and where you rather it be spent. I assume you can contact them or they have town halls or city council meetings you can attend with a slot in the agenda for new business. I think most Argentinians don't have a problem with third space spending for the park maintenance. But if they do, then reduce it. Make it campaign issue. Prioritize the funds. Governments should be working for the people by enacting policies campaigned on.

 

[SlowWalker]

Oh, I think I understand you very well now. "Argentina needs to worry about necessities first, at least that is my opinion." Nice to know education is not necessary.

Did I say education isn't necessary? Are you trying to put words in my mouth?

Supporting education is very different than supporting research and innovation. Yes I do support it. It would be hypocritical of me if I didn't support it. Some countries spend much less on this than others. Canada NSERC (National Sciences and Engineering Research Council) spent $1.45B CAD, so about $1.1B USD. and that was 8% more than previous year (and I suspect they increased a lot since I was in school). The Canadian Federal governments budget is around $586B. So that is around 0.25% of Canada's budget.
These funds are also not automatically awarded. Professors or grad students apply to them. And often they are matching industry funds. In Canada, a lot of funding comes from US government, foundations, industry support from applying to individual companies or consortium, or the university itself. There can be significant reductions of research funds available at times and its not just a huge pool for everything, it is divided by field, and if they are doing practical and worthwhile research then they should be able to raise funds from companies. The government can provide tax credits (similar to charitable donations) for the amount used on Research and Development, this is common around the world.

Argentina's federal budget is 148 Trillion pesos, so roughly $100B USD, so $250M or 375B pesos would be proportional. Whether its the priority or not at the moment is up to the government the people vote in. In my opinion, if there are not funds available for this, then there may be a pause for a year or two to support new studies and existing programs can be reviewed etc. It sucks but it might not be the priority and they may not be funds. Plans can change. That is how a democracy functions. By accepting a democratic government you accept that there are opposing ideas even if you yourself may not accept those ideas, and you accept that the opposition may lead the government and implement those ideas. If not, then one is not accepting of a democracy and would prefer another form of government.

As far as I understand, university for citizens and permanent residents with a DNI are still free. The policy that changed 2 years ago was for international or non-resident students. I have no problem with a country charging foreign students to attend their universities. 1) The intention is for them to get the degree and leave as they would only be on a student visa, therefore they have not, their parents have not, they are not planning to contribute to taxes which fund the education they will be receiving. 2) This is very standard practice across the globe. Many countries export education. The cost for international students is often much higher than that of domestic students. 3) If the Universities are also funded by the province, then I wouldn't have an issue with student from another province paying a higher tuition if they had to. If University is free here by law, then there should at least be a transfer of funds from the students home province to its host (university) province for their share of tuition credits (this would be similar to a voucher system in other countries where you get to choose your school), unless the provinces have a free exchange or other type of agreement. Again, it would be funded from either federal transfers to provinces or from their provincial tax sources so students from other provinces were not funding the education they were receiving. Its not a matter of penalizing people, its a matter of their not being unlimited resources and matching allocated funds to delivered services.

If you would like me to continue to respond to you, then I would ask you to drop the name calling, it is unnecessary. And try to exhibit some good faith and not try and twist my words or apply whatever meaning you want to what I say. If I am unclear, I will more than gladly explain.

 

[JMHarris]

Did I say education isn't necessary? Are you trying to put words in my mouth?

Supporting education is very different than supporting research and innovation. Yes I do support it. It would be hypocritical of me if I didn't support it. Some countries spend much less on this than others. Canada NSERC (National Sciences and Engineering Research Council) spent $1.45B CAD, so about $1.1B USD. and that was 8% more than previous year (and I suspect they increased a lot since I was in school). The Canadian Federal governments budget is around $586B. So that is around 0.25% of Canada's budget.
These funds are also not automatically awarded. Professors or grad students apply to them. And often they are matching industry funds. In Canada, a lot of funding comes from US government, foundations, industry support from applying to individual companies or consortium, or the university itself. There can be significant reductions of research funds available at times and its not just a huge pool for everything, it is divided by field, and if they are doing practical and worthwhile research then they should be able to raise funds from companies. The government can provide tax credits (similar to charitable donations) for the amount used on Research and Development, this is common around the world.

Argentina's federal budget is 148 Trillion pesos, so roughly $100B USD, so $250M or 375B pesos would be proportional. Whether its the priority or not at the moment is up to the government the people vote in. In my opinion, if there are not funds available for this, then there may be a pause for a year or two to support new studies and existing programs can be reviewed etc. It sucks but it might not be the priority and they may not be funds. Plans can change. That is how a democracy functions. By accepting a democratic government you accept that there are opposing ideas even if you yourself may not accept those ideas, and you accept that the opposition may lead the government and implement those ideas. If not, then one is not accepting of a democracy and would prefer another form of government.

As far as I understand, university for citizens and permanent residents with a DNI are still free. The policy that changed 2 years ago was for international or non-resident students. I have no problem with a country charging foreign students to attend their universities. 1) The intention is for them to get the degree and leave as they would only be on a student visa, therefore they have not, their parents have not, they are not planning to contribute to taxes which fund the education they will be receiving. 2) This is very standard practice across the globe. Many countries export education. The cost for international students is often much higher than that of domestic students. 3) If the Universities are also funded by the province, then I wouldn't have an issue with student from another province paying a higher tuition if they had to. If University is free here by law, then there should at least be a transfer of funds from the students home province to its host (university) province for their share of tuition credits (this would be similar to a voucher system in other countries where you get to choose your school), unless the provinces have a free exchange or other type of agreement. Again, it would be funded from either federal transfers to provinces or from their provincial tax sources so students from other provinces were not funding the education they were receiving. Its not a matter of penalizing people, its a matter of their not being unlimited resources and matching allocated funds to delivered services.

If you would like me to continue to respond to you, then I would ask you to drop the name calling, it is unnecessary. And try to exhibit some good faith and not try and twist my words or apply whatever meaning you want to what I say. If I am unclear, I will more than gladly explain.

So funding research and innovation isn't necessary bc, you know, deficit spending???????????????????????????????????

 

[SlowWalker]

So funding research and innovation isn't necessary bc, you know, deficit spending???????????????????????????????????

1) He was elected on a campaign of not deficit spending but balancing the budget. So implementing deficit spending would have gone against what people who voted for him wanted.
2) So just printing would have increased inflation which was in hyperinflation territory at the time. Which is what his voters wanted dealt with.
3) Issuing extenal debt bonds was not an option at the time, literally just reentering the market at the end of last year.
4) You seem to think Argentina was in a position like a normal country where they run deficits up to around 2-3% of their GDP, and issue debt which is typically bought up by the market (banks, pension funds, individuals, businesses etc). Argentina was not in that position, and doing so at the time he took over with a country risk of over 2300. So is the value of that debt generating a benefit that was worth 23% more than whatever the US borrowing rate was, or is it not an absolute priority, and it can wait a few years?
5) If the research is so good and impactful, then why won't industry fund it? At the end of the day they are the ones to apply and or commercialize it. This is how a lot of research is done around the world. In engineering fields at least, it is not uncommon for projects starting from a problem or idea or whatever from a company.

Edit: I do not think that this is a "necessity". This is something that with either money left over, or deficit spending when available can be done. But if I couldn't afford rent and food, I am not spending money on Merval. For the first 2 years, the governments horizon was very short term for the most part, this year starting in June the public works/projects will be put out to tender. This is when the time horizon starts increasing.

 

[JMHarris]

Are the plazas and parks maintained by the federal government? If not, speak to the city or province about its funds and where you rather it be spent.

But don't the provinces (inc. CABA) receive funds from the federal government? But not now, of course, bc, you know, deficit spending.

But deficit spending (basic robbery, really) is super-duper ok if your name is Karina Milei or Manuel Adorni, etc.

I understand what you are saying.

 

[JMHarris]

For the first 2 years, the governments horizon was very short term for the most part, this year starting in June the public works/projects will be put out to tender. This is when the time horizon starts increasing.

Ok, like when Caputo reiterates ad nauseum every time he talks that in 18 months, all will be proven. Those 18 months are on an incredible rolling basis. He's been saying the next 18 months since he got the job.

 

[SlowWalker]

But don't the provinces (inc. CABA) receive funds from the federal government? But not now, of course, bc, you know, deficit spending.

But deficit spending (basic robbery, really) is super-duper ok if your name is Karina Milei or Manuel Adorni, etc.

I understand what you are saying.

They receive some of their funding from the federal government, they also receive funding from the Ingresos Brutos, royalties and other streams.

They are running a fiscal surplus, so I really don't know what you are trying to imply about Karina, Milei or Adorni.

Ok, like when Caputo reiterates ad nauseum every time he talks that in 18 months, all will be proven. Those 18 months are on an incredible rolling basis. He's been saying the next 18 months since he got the job.

They have been operating a surplus for 2024 and 2025. They have lowered the country risk and are now able to borrow money. Most of which is going to meet obligations from previous debt settlements or to raise international reserves.

I think you expect national economies to respond a lot quicker than they really do. As I have explained many times previously, large projects don't just happen overnight. If you don't want to take my word for it, and by all means don't, then go look into how long it can take to develop mining or natural resource projects, and the time per stage etc.

 

[Paige55]

For those who make decent wages and hold some savings...Buenos Aires is still an incredible get, in my opinion. For others who're on tighter budgets, the spending power isn't as strong. They might suffer from that austerity kicking around, depending on lifestyle expectations.

To me, someone on a very restricted budget, Buenos Aires is still the most amazing metropolis in the world. Even though I'm not able to enjoy it as fully as I once was, the cultural access to film, art, music, green space, is largely still in place. I can still spend an entire day walking around the town, admiring the architecture, sauntering through the Ecoparque, the botanical gardens, cultural centers. For free. That brings me immense pleasure, but I've never been a high spender on material items. I get by well on a shoestring budget. It's wholly dependent on how you see things.

I say, cling to the joy as much as you can...it may be short-lived and we'll all be beholden to the very AI that seems so innocuous now, but has found a way to dominate this very forum quite regularly. *le sigh*