miguelxt · HackerTrans

قبل 23 يومًاdiscuss

To say they were "privately owned" doesn't sound right. Cajas de ahorros had no shareholders so profits were not distributed to any "private owner". Leaders and executives of the Cajas were appointed by a mix of local councils, unions, autonomous regions, and other non-private organizations. Juridically, they were "private organizations", but factually, they were just a form of state-owned company, as it was the municipalities and regions that made the important governing decisions.

miguelxt

قبل 4 أشهرdiscuss

Why not compare it to the DR? Neighbor right next door with similar demographics to Cuba but closer economic and political system to that of the US.

Not doubt the embargo has done some damage to the wellbeing of the island, but the self imposed economic system makes things far worse.

miguelxt

قبل 7 أشهرdiscuss

We do agree. The desired objective of the regulations I mentioned is good. It's a good thing to have some stability as a renter, to not be kicked out and on the streets if you have children and cannot pay the rent, or that yearly rent increases are small enough that renters don't feel asfixiated.

However, we should not only consider the stated objective of the law but the real consequences of them. My point is, housing and rents are quite regulated in Spain. More regulation is being added every year as it serves the political and electoral objectives of our leaders, yet the situation is getting worse. Regulation detached from practical realities will fail to reach the desired objectives.

miguelxt

قبل 7 أشهرdiscuss

Cities that have almost completely banned Airbnb (e.g.: NYC) have not seen any improvement on affordability. What's next?

Housing and rent are already heavily regulated in Spain. Some regulations and side effects of those regulations:

  * Minimum contract length of 5 years. 
  * Maximum increase of rental per year regulated to 2/3% (even during high inflation years).
  * It can take years to evict a non-paying tenant. If there are children in the apartment, it's even harder. 
  * Even if the tenant is not paying, you, the landlord, have to keep paying the utilities, because if you stop paying, you'll be charged with "coacciones".
  * If the landlord is not a person but a company, regulation is even harder. 
  * In some cities like Barcelona, regulation goes beyond. Maximum prices set by the local government, seasonal contracts banned, and even room rentals regulated.
  * And all that is not going into detail of the "Okupa" problem.

miguelxt

قبل 8 أشهرdiscuss

In Costa Rica, they don't even use street names. For instance, "50 meters down the old store, with a green door" is a valid address.

miguelxt

قبل 9 أشهرdiscuss

Gift link: https://www.wsj.com/economy/federal-budget-fiscal-2025-e8d21...

miguelxt

قبل 9 أشهرdiscuss

https://archive.is/8UOIg

miguelxt

قبل 10 أشهرdiscuss

While I do agree with your opinion, I think the opposite is also true. It feels good to believe you didn't get there because "The game is rigged", "You have to be born lucky", "The house always wins", etc, etc. This defeatist/powerless way of thinking may in fact make it worse for you. When hope is lost, what's left?

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