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I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in devel
by djdjfhsje33edh 5y ago
I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries.
I've lived in various mostly developing countries for the past 7 years, and I'm not one to get hung up on the "white privalege" that's currently talked about in the west, but it is hard not to feel guilty at times at the tremendous advantages I have with a western salary and background while living here. And that's before even considering the rampant fetishization of white men in some countries that results in endless dating opportunities. It doesn't seem far removed from the colonial past.
- camillomiller 5y agoThis. Tbh I think most Nomads would be glad to adhere to some form of "nomadic" taxation system, contributing to the communities they're visiting. This would require a massive coordination between so many different countries with different interests. I don't think we'll achieve anything like this in our lifetimes.
- Cthulhu_ 5y ago> I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries. What kind of backlash are you thinking of? When I think of a digital nomad, I'm thinking of a rich white kid spending their money in a holiday destination year round.
- throwawayffffas 5y agoThis. I don't think they are seeing as taking advantage of something. I am pretty sure they are seen as tourists.
- djdjfhsje33edh 5y agoYes, the locals who work in industries that directly benefit from the influx of foreign spending love it. The criticism will come from a few directions I think: 1. The same people who are highly concerned about economic inequality and "social justice" within western countries today. 2. Locals of developing countries who do no benefit from the foreign spending or are even hurt by it (e.g., middle or upper class locals who lose their relatively privaleged status to foreigners). 3. Local men who see foreigners as "stealing" their women.
- aaaaaaaaata 5y ago4. Governments trying to secure tax revenue of those dodging.
- lozenge 5y agoIt's international gentrification isn't it? Replacing facilities that locals would use with Western style overpriced apartment rentals, overpriced coffee, and overpriced, insufficiently spicy food. Some digital nomads chafe at being charged "farang prices"(foreigner's prices) but the alternative is that locals are priced out.
- ulzeraj 5y agoRent, property and living prices being adjusted to the purchasing power of the western visitors driving the original low income population away from whichever region gets more popular. Its similar to what I call hipsterization. Rich and privileged persons moving to an undeveloped area they deem cool, fancy cafes are opened and real state prices skyrocket.
- selfhoster11 5y agoFYI, hipsterization is called "gentrification" by most people talking about the phenomenon of original communities being displaced by an influx of wealthier workers (and they are, by and large, hipsters in the areas where I've seen it first hand)
- chucksta 5y agoIts not always a phenomenon anymore, afaik it's a known tactic for developers now
- mtmail 5y agoIsn't it more rich kid working in a country, possibly very successful, without paying local taxes?
- fragmede 5y agoWithout paying local income tax. Local sales tax (if any) is still being paid.
- oigursh 5y agoI've been to Thailand and Singapore and I don't know what you mean about fetishization. If anything it was embarrassing being white and was pleasant when you were ignored.