4 ms·

Argentina bans beef exports for 30 days in effort to reduce domestic prices

22 points by adrian_mrd 5y ago

fgonzag 5y ago
I can't fathom the mental gymnastics needed to enact this type of regulation. You are essentially stopping the flow of foreign capital into the country on an economy with extreme inflation and unemployment rate. People don't need beef. Trying to make an easily substituted luxury good affordable that is bringing a significant portion of all foreign capital into the country seems short sighted, to say the least.
- ramblerman 5y ago
  > I can't fathom the mental gymnastics Welcome to Kirschnerism... I love Argentina, it's such a great place to visit, and is still hopefully the place I would retire, but politically I fear it might be headed towards Venezuela.
  - throwaway292a9 5y ago
    Completely agree, it's a wonderful place to visit, but all the politicians are so incompetent it hurts
- adrian_mrd 5y ago
  > People don't need beef. I agree technically speaking, but try telling that to the average Argentinian ;)
  - jbarham 5y ago
    https://idlewords.com/2006/04/argentina_on_two_steaks_a_day.htm https://idlewords.com/2006/04/argentina_on_two_steaks_a_day.... (by Maciej Cegłowski, the creator of Pinboard)
    - ThePowerOfFuet 5y ago
      I first read this perhaps ten years ago, and I re-read it every year or two, hoping to one day make it there to experience it myself. Now I know who wrote it! Thank you!
- saba2008 5y ago
  That this because regulation purpose is not fixing a problem, but making government look good. Many people does not think in terms of 'flow of foreign capital', but in 'greedy exporters are hiking prices to get rich'. So forbidding exports and fixing prices look good to them (especially with propaganda support), while macroeconomic effects will go unnoticed. (from experience in Russia, but Argentina looks quite similar in political structure)
stueynz 5y ago
As a beef farmer my natural inclination would be to hold off on sending animals to be killed until the ban is lifted and China is back buying beef. This of course will lower three amount of beef being killed... And probably drive up domestic prices. Unintended consequences
- tbiteteitb 5y ago
  But then you need to feed them while the ban lasts, increasing costs and whatnot

22 points by adrian_mrd 5y ago

I can't fathom the mental gymnastics needed to enact this type of regulation. You are essentially stopping the flow of foreign capital into the country on an economy with extreme inflation and unemployment rate. People don't need beef. Trying to make an easily substituted luxury good affordable that is bringing a significant portion of all foreign capital into the country seems short sighted, to say the least.

ramblerman 5y ago
> I can't fathom the mental gymnastics Welcome to Kirschnerism... I love Argentina, it's such a great place to visit, and is still hopefully the place I would retire, but politically I fear it might be headed towards Venezuela.
- throwaway292a9 5y ago
  Completely agree, it's a wonderful place to visit, but all the politicians are so incompetent it hurts
adrian_mrd 5y ago
> People don't need beef. I agree technically speaking, but try telling that to the average Argentinian ;)
- jbarham 5y ago
  https://idlewords.com/2006/04/argentina_on_two_steaks_a_day.htm https://idlewords.com/2006/04/argentina_on_two_steaks_a_day.... (by Maciej Cegłowski, the creator of Pinboard)
  - ThePowerOfFuet 5y ago
    I first read this perhaps ten years ago, and I re-read it every year or two, hoping to one day make it there to experience it myself. Now I know who wrote it! Thank you!
saba2008 5y ago
That this because regulation purpose is not fixing a problem, but making government look good. Many people does not think in terms of 'flow of foreign capital', but in 'greedy exporters are hiking prices to get rich'. So forbidding exports and fixing prices look good to them (especially with propaganda support), while macroeconomic effects will go unnoticed. (from experience in Russia, but Argentina looks quite similar in political structure)

stueynz 5y ago

As a beef farmer my natural inclination would be to hold off on sending animals to be killed until the ban is lifted and China is back buying beef. This of course will lower three amount of beef being killed... And probably drive up domestic prices. Unintended consequences

tbiteteitb 5y ago
But then you need to feed them while the ban lasts, increasing costs and whatnot