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I don't think I have ever claimed to have been poor. On the contrary I grew up in a a very well to do place. But that's irrelevant. > So having instant access

I don't think I have ever claimed to have been poor. On the contrary I grew up in a a very well to do place. But that's irrelevant. > So having instant access to your wages may let you take a better job, and have a FAR GREATER IMPACT THAN SAVINGS. This statement is completely baffling. Clearly, if you had 2 weeks worth of savings you would not need to take "a shittier job with worse pay just because it pays every two weeks instead of every four weeks". Imagine if you had two months worth, or six. These are definitely payday loans by the way, the salary is not "yours" until you've received it, which per the contract happens at the end of the month, or week or whatever. So by definition you are borrowing money, even if there is no interest. I agree that it's very positive if this can kill off traditional, predatory pay day loans, but I don't agree that this is a long term solution. And honestly, I think it will only increase the need. If people start living week to week instead of month to month, they will be MORE likely to need payday loans. If you take any poor person in Latin America, you seem to imply that their situation, where they are constantly 5 days away from starvation, is inevitable. Remember, we are not talking about people that can't work, these people can and do work, they just don't have any savings and live hand to mouth. I claim that in the vast majority of these cases, the situation is avoidable. Just consider the mathematics of it. What would it take to be 30 days away from starvation instead of 5? It's enough to lower your expenses by 8% for a year. Or 1% for 8 years. Or working 8% more for 1 year. Or starting to work a few months earlier. If you have your own family, well then clearly the situation was entirely avoidable. You could have waited a few months to start the family, that would have solved it.

scrollaway 5y ago
Your comments are rooted in assumptions and an incorrect view of the low-income world, which makes a reasonable discussion impossible without preparing a whole lecture; and I don't have that patience for just a random internet commenter. All I ask is you stop presuming you know how to fix this when you're so deeply, deeply unaware of what the problem even is.
- Grustaf 5y ago
  As constructive as this is, perhaps you could elaborate on what the problem is that keeps millions of people in a situation where they earn _exactly_ as much as they need to survive, year in and year out? Of course I can not expect a private lecture from you, being a mere random commenter, but perhaps you could point me to some of your existing lectures or writings that explain why I am so wrong? According to your profile, you are a software developer in Switzerland that likes to figure skate. Maybe it's my prejudice, but it doesn't sound like you would have much personal experience of third world poverty either.
  - scrollaway 5y ago
    > As constructive as this is, perhaps you could elaborate on what the problem is that keeps millions of people in a situation where they earn _exactly_ as much as they need to survive, year in and year out? This isn't the claim, and one reason it's difficult to have a conversation around this with you right now. I'm not in Switzerland but I do like to figure skate. I'm also very well off nowadays. I was raised by divorced parents, spending some years in the middle-class world, and quite a few more in Greek poverty (ranging from mild to severe, and at one point back in France, inches from the street). I managed to get to where I am today thanks to safety nets and various EU benefits (as well as some amazing blind luck). I'm under no illusion that I'm both greatly priviledged and extremely lucky. But I do have some relevant experience, yes.
    - Grustaf 5y ago
      What is the claim then? Why is it inconceivable that most of these people would be able to save up a few weeks worth of wages?

scrollaway 5y ago

Your comments are rooted in assumptions and an incorrect view of the low-income world, which makes a reasonable discussion impossible without preparing a whole lecture; and I don't have that patience for just a random internet commenter. All I ask is you stop presuming you know how to fix this when you're so deeply, deeply unaware of what the problem even is.

Grustaf 5y ago
As constructive as this is, perhaps you could elaborate on what the problem is that keeps millions of people in a situation where they earn _exactly_ as much as they need to survive, year in and year out? Of course I can not expect a private lecture from you, being a mere random commenter, but perhaps you could point me to some of your existing lectures or writings that explain why I am so wrong? According to your profile, you are a software developer in Switzerland that likes to figure skate. Maybe it's my prejudice, but it doesn't sound like you would have much personal experience of third world poverty either.
- scrollaway 5y ago
  > As constructive as this is, perhaps you could elaborate on what the problem is that keeps millions of people in a situation where they earn _exactly_ as much as they need to survive, year in and year out? This isn't the claim, and one reason it's difficult to have a conversation around this with you right now. I'm not in Switzerland but I do like to figure skate. I'm also very well off nowadays. I was raised by divorced parents, spending some years in the middle-class world, and quite a few more in Greek poverty (ranging from mild to severe, and at one point back in France, inches from the street). I managed to get to where I am today thanks to safety nets and various EU benefits (as well as some amazing blind luck). I'm under no illusion that I'm both greatly priviledged and extremely lucky. But I do have some relevant experience, yes.
  - Grustaf 5y ago
    What is the claim then? Why is it inconceivable that most of these people would be able to save up a few weeks worth of wages?