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Comment by xweb | Hacker News Reader

Gee, it sounds awful. On recent tax reform: "Especially surprising was the lack of opposition from the upper strata of Uruguayan society, who would almost assuredly pay more taxes as a result of the reforms.... There are few associations or organizations that unite the country’s elite even today, and Uruguay’s political parties tend to develop broad “catch-all” coalitions that refrain from aligning to closely with the wealthy and alienating the majority of voters. Thus, the economic elite tend to have very weak influence on political decision making, including tax reforms." http://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/Uruguay_Taxation_201...

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Would you mind expanding on your this?

As an Uruguayan myself, I think this:

>> the economic elite tend to have very weak influence on political decision making, including tax reforms.

IS a good thing.

Pretty sure that was sarcasm, but either way, the above link is worth reading.

I think any elite above a certain dollar amount or level of power, would just go elsewhere. Isn't Uruguay right beside Argentina, and Paraguay, for instance? And you can get a residency visa for Uruguay if you can show $500 a month income (I am told).

Actually, Uruguay seems like a cool place to hang out... will add to bucket list.

I lived in Uruguay for almost a year, before moving on to Paraguay.

When I left Uruguay 2.5 years ago, applying for residency was changing a bit. Apparently, nowadays, you need to show you have "enough income to support yourself". The people I know say that's usually around $1500/month. Also, expect it to take at least 18 months to finally complete your residency. It took over 2 years for some people I knew. However, you can still live there while your application is in process (no visa runs needed).

If you've been reading anything that says it's "cheap" to live in Uruguay, it's probably several years out of date. Inflation seemed to be around 15% a year. Personally, I was spending about $2000-2500/month to live there by myself, and I wasn't living extravagantly (other than living in a decent neighborhood).

Uruguay doesn't manufacture much of anything, and imported goods have a 60% duty, along with the standard 21% IVA (Value Added Tax). So, electronics are about twice the price of what you'd pay in the US.

It's also not a very entrepreneurial place. There is some software development there, which can have some tax advantages. But prepare yourself for a very bureaucratic place, where things don't move quickly, and taxes/fees are high.

Uruguay may be a place you'd end up loving, but if you base your views about it on what you've read from International Living's website, you're going to be in for a big shock.

Uruguay is probably among the most expensive places to live in currently (I'm Uruguayan, with family in Europe and Canada, so I can compare).

Cars are the most expensive in the world (at least 100% over US list price, often 200%, so a Honda Civic is a rich man's car and I'm not joking).

Salaries are South American standard, U$ 2000 / month is a HUGE salary, yet it doesn't get you that far !

Electronics are also expensive.

Housing is really expensive, rent is higher than anywhere in the U.S. excepting New York or San Francisco, unless you go to REALLY bad neighbourhoods.

And as scott says, it's really bureaucratic.

The only really big pro is that healthcare is good - basic stuff for free and really good coverage for what an American would consider incredibly cheap prices (U$ 70/month gets you coverage that includes house visits and emergency services which I've heard are impossible at any cost in the US, and U$ 100/month gets you into the very best hospital in the country.

The country is nice, we have nice beaches, I believe the people are friendly, etc. but that's true in several places :)

Think about it. Everyone gets a free computer from the state. Of course only a percentage of those will learn how to program it, but imagine what an experienced professional software developer could do in a country like that, with a ready source of junior developers who all speak fluent Spanish, the second largest language group worldwide after Mandarin. If you are good at coaching/mentoring younger developers then Uruguay sounds like a good country to move to and start a software business. You would handle the English language versions and your colleagues would do the Spanish language version. Mobile apps, web apps.

Probably in 15 or 20 years.

First of all, not everyone gets a free computer. Only those kids who go to public schools. That is the "poorer" that can't pay a private school, and the relatively rich that live in richer neighborhoods where the public school doesn't suck.

The teachers really don't understand almost nothing about computers and can't teach how to use them properly (from a techie point of view).

Also, as another commenter correctly states, Uruguay isn't a very entrepeneurial country and it is very bureacratic.

> I think any elite above a certain dollar amount or level of power, would just go elsewhere. Isn't Uruguay right beside Argentina, and Paraguay, for instance?

I suspect they might have a culture similar to Spain, in the respect that it's much less common for people to move around. Young adults often live at home well into their twenties, and go to university in their home town, and friend and family groups are usually in the local area. If almost everyone you know lives in one place, to move away is a much greater step, even if you are wealthy.

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