Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy • Hacker News Board

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#21

Post by diego » Tue, May 31, 2011, 7:01 PM UTC

kragen wrote: post #14

I thought this part was pretty funny: > "...I wasn't going to put all of my risk in Latin America again in my life." At the end of 2002, he left the company and moved his family to Miami. I think Miami is a lot more Latin American than Buenos Aires.

In terms of culture and lifestyle, yeah. Many people call Miami "the Capital of Latin America." Buenos Aires is not particularly representative of Latin America, it's more like a hybrid between LatAm and Europe (you probably agree).

In terms of economic stability, Miami is still part of the US so it's less risky for running a business. Not the greatest place for a startup, but a good compromise for someone who wants to travel to South America frequently.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#22

Post by llopatin » Tue, May 31, 2011, 7:02 PM UTC

kragen wrote: post #14

I thought this part was pretty funny: > "...I wasn't going to put all of my risk in Latin America again in my life." At the end of 2002, he left the company and moved his family to Miami. I think Miami is a lot more Latin American than Buenos Aires.

Kragen, I agree it is much more Latin American in the social aspect, but definitely not in the way of doing business and it is much safer to live in as well.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#23

Post by paganel » Tue, May 31, 2011, 7:55 PM UTC

briggsbio wrote: post #11

My in-laws left Argentina 30 years ago and still have much of their family there. I showed this article to them and their reply was simply, "the US is heading this way. We've seen this movie, and we don't like the way it ends."

> "the US is heading this way. We've seen this movie, and we don't like the way it ends."

I grew up in post-communist Romania, and I've also seen this movie before. Immediately after 1990 (the fall of communism) money started losing their value. At the beginning money were losing their value by "only" 40-50% per year, to a maximum of ~150% inflation rate in the late '90s. It was only in the mid 2000s' that the inflation rate first dropped to single digits.

I can still remember reading Malthus in high-school, and about how he was saying that the middle-class people are always the worst affected by the economic crisis. What can I say? My parents went from a secure, middle-class position (apartment, car, country-house) to relying on subsistence-agriculture in the space of maximum 10 years. And they weren't the only ones.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#24

Post by itswindy » Tue, May 31, 2011, 8:28 PM UTC

Buy a couple of acres of land somewhere, at least you might not starve.

But EU is going to go down first.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#25

Post by sespindola » Tue, May 31, 2011, 8:53 PM UTC

As an Argentinian, here are my two cents on this matter:

1) From reading this article, one could asume commercial and financial regulations change by the hour, while in fact is the opposite.

   We have a gargantuan commercial code of byzantine
   complexity that has not really been modified in the
   last 50 years.

   We also have a terribly regressive and unfair tax
   system that includes 21% VAT even for food products
   and wealth tax even for salaried employees with 
   more than 1400 dollars of monthly income.

2) It is my sincere wish, from the bottom of my heart, that "entrepreneurs" (I doubt they deserve the honor if being called that) who operate "en negro" rot in jail. They are bringing all of us down with their disregard for the rule of law and they are increasing the costs of doing bussiness for those of us who pay taxes.

   Regardless of the recurrent crises, starting up a 
   successful tech company here is possible, as proven
   by Globant, OfficeNet, MercadoLibre, et al.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#26

Post by tsuipen » Tue, May 31, 2011, 9:08 PM UTC

kragen wrote: post #14

I thought this part was pretty funny: > "...I wasn't going to put all of my risk in Latin America again in my life." At the end of 2002, he left the company and moved his family to Miami. I think Miami is a lot more Latin American than Buenos Aires.

That's rather stereotypical and prejudice.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#27

Post by tsuipen » Tue, May 31, 2011, 9:17 PM UTC

diego wrote: post #21

kragen wrote: post #14

I thought this part was pretty funny: > "...I wasn't going to put all of my risk in Latin America again in my life." At the end of 2002, he left the company and moved his family to Miami. I think Miami is a lot more Latin American than Buenos Aires.

In terms of culture and lifestyle, yeah. Many people call Miami "the Capital of Latin America." Buenos Aires is not particularly representative of Latin America, it's more like a hybrid between LatAm and Europe (you probably agree). In terms of economic stability, Miami is still part of the US so it's less risky for running a business. Not the greatest place for a startup, but a good compromise for someone who wants…

Again, stereotypical and prejudice.

Last I checked, Spain was in Europe.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#28

Post by berntb » Tue, May 31, 2011, 9:28 PM UTC

paganel wrote: post #23

briggsbio wrote: post #11

My in-laws left Argentina 30 years ago and still have much of their family there. I showed this article to them and their reply was simply, "the US is heading this way. We've seen this movie, and we don't like the way it ends."

> "the US is heading this way. We've seen this movie, and we don't like the way it ends." I grew up in post-communist Romania, and I've also seen this movie before. Immediately after 1990 (the fall of communism) money started losing their value. At the beginning money were losing their value by "only" 40-50% per year, to a maximum of ~150% inflation rate in the late '90s. It was only in the mid 2000s' that the inflat…

You scare me. :-)

I moved to Cluj (Transylvania) this spring.

I am thinking about looking for another job, but would like to stay here. I am scared that telecommuting will make me unhappy.

Good food, wonderful nature, good weather (ok, most anywhere has better weather than Scandinavia), nice people, a hot girlfriend, etc.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#29

Post by hugh3 » Tue, May 31, 2011, 9:54 PM UTC

tsuipen wrote: post #27

diego wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In terms of culture and lifestyle, yeah. Many people call Miami "the Capital of Latin America." Buenos Aires is not particularly representative of Latin America, it's more like a hybrid between LatAm and Europe (you probably agree). In terms of economic stability, Miami is still part of the US so it's less risky for running a business. Not the greatest place for a startup, but a good compromise for someone who wants…

Again, stereotypical and prejudice. Last I checked, Spain was in Europe.

Has the parent been edited, or is this remarkably non-sequiturial? I read the parent several times looking for a mention of Spain, couldn't find it.

Re: Lessons from Argentina's Crazy Economy

#30

Post by rabble » Tue, May 31, 2011, 10:08 PM UTC

Thank god Uruguay's not Argentina. This article is why i've refused to open up an office on the other side of the river. Argentina's an amazing country where just about every institution in society is in some sort chaotic collapse.