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Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

articles.latimes.com

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Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#21

Post by popee »

As person from country that was in former Yugoslavia i can say that situation is not simple as Americans see it. Yugoslav variation of socialism (yeah, it is important to yell that it wasn't communism) had flaws and advances. In short:

1. Humans come first. Even before money.

2. But, but, lot of people exploited 1. due bad organization, nepotism, ...

Because of 1. people had, for example, health care and education for free (best universities included), but because of 2. -> system wasn't always in favor of people that actually work (even for others).

People, at one moment, voted for capitalism -> now we don't have free health care and education, but most of people from 2. are still here. Worst from both worlds :-( But when i look at Scandinavia it looks like they knew how to minimize 2. and also have 1. at the same time. So if i ever choose to leave current place it will be Scandinavia ;-)

Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#23

Post by [deleted] »

dasil003 wrote: post #10
nick2 wrote: post #5

"Trained employees are quitting because they find they have to work like Westerners and get paid like East Europeans." That says it all. You always get what you pay for.

Also, I bet the food prices aren't correspondingly low. I remember when McDonald's started expanding in Brazil a couple decades ago, prices were ridiculous (like $8-$9 equivalent for a big mac meal) but people still lined up around the block for the novelty and addictive quality of the food.

[deleted]

Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#24

Post by skylan_q »

edw519 wrote: post #9

According to a recent domestic survey, average Yugoslavs work efficiently for only half of their eight-hour workday. The rest of the time is spent reading newspapers, conducting private business or having interminable private chats with colleagues over coffee. According to a recent domestic survey, average I.T. managers work efficiently for only 10% of their eight-hour workday. The rest of the time is spent reading e…

Some disclosure:

I've been born and raised in Canada and my parents are immigrants from the former Yugoslavia. I've taken many extended trips back home and I have to say that "working efficiently for only half of their eight-hour workday" is overstating their efficiency. Socialism destroyed work ethic in Yugoslavia amongst other things. The villagers and farmers were the only ones who had any work ethic left as they were primarily subsistence farmers on the "receiving end" of socialism if you will. They were the ones who left to work and settle in other countries.

People with money aren't viewed as investors, but crooks. Anyone who turns a profit is suspected of stealing. Almost no one understands the concept of looking for work or creating their own job. It's sad.

Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#25

Post by dghughes »

nick2 wrote: post #5

"Trained employees are quitting because they find they have to work like Westerners and get paid like East Europeans." That says it all. You always get what you pay for.

Then there is Alberta Canada I think Edmonton where fast food workers get paid $20/hour due to the oil boom in the area.

But a small apartment rents for close to $2,000/month if you can find one.

Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#26

Post by Vivtek »

That McD's in Belgrade is actually the place this American first tried a Big Mac. It was pretty good.

The trend of demanding more work for less money is hardly restricted to Yugoslavia, though - it's crippled America, for one thing, but Western Europe loooves to exploit Central Europe for cheap labor, even though Central Europe's cost of living has come up to Western levels now.

Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#27

Post by laurentoget »

dasil003 wrote: post #10
nick2 wrote: post #5

"Trained employees are quitting because they find they have to work like Westerners and get paid like East Europeans." That says it all. You always get what you pay for.

Also, I bet the food prices aren't correspondingly low. I remember when McDonald's started expanding in Brazil a couple decades ago, prices were ridiculous (like $8-$9 equivalent for a big mac meal) but people still lined up around the block for the novelty and addictive quality of the food.

Same in france. McD's is very popular even though for the price of a Big Mac you can get two delicious sandwiches from the corner boulangerie. Or at least that is how it was in the 90's.

Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#28

Post by bergerjac »

IvyMike wrote: post #17

I'd be curious to see how things are today at McDonald's in the Yugosphere.

A 'premium' chicken sandwich is over $4. I can buy a larger fresh-grilled chicken breast sandwich with sauces and veggies of my choosing for less than $3, so I haven't had a reason to go inside.

Regarding the employees, the unemployment rate is relatively high, so there will always be some available.

Also, the wage of a younger non-skilled employee is less than $2/hour. (If McD's pays more than that, I don't foresee many quitting.)

It's common for people in their 30's to be living with parents.

Housing and food are cheap, while consumer goods are expensive.

Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#29

Post by Vivtek »

skylan_q wrote: post #24
edw519 wrote: post #9

According to a recent domestic survey, average Yugoslavs work efficiently for only half of their eight-hour workday. The rest of the time is spent reading newspapers, conducting private business or having interminable private chats with colleagues over coffee. According to a recent domestic survey, average I.T. managers work efficiently for only 10% of their eight-hour workday. The rest of the time is spent reading e…

Some disclosure: I've been born and raised in Canada and my parents are immigrants from the former Yugoslavia. I've taken many extended trips back home and I have to say that "working efficiently for only half of their eight-hour workday" is overstating their efficiency. Socialism destroyed work ethic in Yugoslavia amongst other things. The villagers and farmers were the only ones who had any work ethic left as they…

Well, to be fair, anywhere the Habsburgs ruled is like this because that's the way their empire worked. You could only get rich by exploiting others or engaging in corruption - or be born into it because your ancestors did that.

Re: Yugoslavs Find No Paradise at McDonald's (1988)

#30

Post by cubancigar11 »

patrickaljord wrote: post #6
moondowner wrote: post #4

Just to say that the TV series mentioned in the article, Dynasty[1], was really popular then. My parents watched it as well. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasty_%28TV_series%29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zF... :)

I didn't get the connection. What would that be?
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