Google Unable To Keep Paying App Developers In Argentina 169
An anonymous reader writes "Google has sent letters to app developers registered in Argentina saying they won't be able to accept payments on developers' behalf after June 27th. 'The change applies to both paid apps and apps that use in-app purchases. The move appears to be related to new, restrictive regulations the Argentine government has imposed on currency exchanges.' According to the Telegraph, 'The new regulations required anyone wanting to change Argentine pesos into another currency to submit an online request for permission to AFIP, the Argentine equivalent of HM Revenue & Customs. To submit the request, however, you first needed to get a PIN from AFIP, either online or in person. Having finally obtained your number, submitted your online request and printed out your permission slip, you could then present it at the bank or official cambio and buy your dollars. Well, that was the theory. In practice, the result was chaos. ... damming the flood has come at a huge cost to the economy, especially since the currency restrictions were coupled with another set of regulations that effectively imposed a near-total ban on any imported goods.'"
Argetina today equals Brazil of 25 years ago (Score:5, Informative)
Here in Brazil we had this kind of policy in the middle '80s. It brought incalculable damage to our economy and to our global competitiveness, together with hyperinflation and other such funny stuff. We finally abandoned this idiocy in the beginning of the '90s and haven't looked back since. Too bad South American countries in general are firm believers in the "But We Are Special!" School of Economics and don't like to do basic stuff such as looking around to see what worked and what didn't to then decide on policies. Argentina is going to suffer a lot in the following years until its government learn the lesson.
For other troubled countries to then disregard, after all, they're special too!
Re:Another currency? (Score:5, Informative)
Turns out they are sort of doing that. You just have to change which country the account is registered in.
We're from the government, and here to help you (Score:5, Informative)
And imagine the opportunities for bureaucratic mischief as more and more layers are added in between someone who has something to sell, and someone who wants to pay for it.
When people complain about "big government," it's exactly this sort of (somewhat) unintended consequence and life-squashing administrative death by a thousand cuts that is really the concern. Too many byzantine rules and hoops to jump through, with too many low-level, unaccountable functionaries being gatekeepers in their own little fiefdoms. In the US, it looks like the IRS's increasing ugliness (to say nothing of what it will look like when they're policing everyone's individual compliance with ObamaCare requirements).
Domestically, this is what's being referred to as the rise of the Fourth Branch. And it's deadly.
Re:Nicely done Cristina (Score:5, Informative)
Venezuela has had a similar currency exchange regulation system for 10 years now.
The limits are ridiculous:
- 400$ for traveling abroad, the paperwork has to be submitted 20 days in advance
- 400$ for internet shopping *per year*
- credit card usage abroad has a different limit depending on the destination and duration. On average 100$ per day, the paperwork has to be submitted 30 days in advance
Basically the government wants to control everything, not only for businesses but also individuals, and it does a crappy job at both. The end result is investments going elsewhere and the economy suffers.
The country has never before been in such a bad shape. Since Chavez took office, the Bolivar lost its value by 992%. This is in the country with the second biggest proven oil reserves in the world, and an oil price of more than 100$.
Sad... (Score:2, Informative)
Im from Argetina, and i can tell u, there is almost no1 that likes this kind of goverment but its dificult for the middle-class people to fight them back. The buy votes and voters... send ppl to kill you or, if u have a store they will break it down and make u pay for thinking an speaking against the goverment.
Almost no1 wants to be like venezuela, we here hated Chavez and we widely hate the venezuela goverment, but sadly enough, we are going to be there... a 2nd venezuela and then, who the fuck knows.... maybe a cuba like country.
Here u r zed that a dollar = 5.60 pesos for the goverment, but u cant buy it... they dont sell.... and be careful not to say out loud u have some dollars at home or u will become an instant target.
Then there is the "blue" dollar, in xchange stores... one dollar = 8.95 pesos but is way too xpensive to buy... imagine buying gadget, a phone, tv, almost anything... take in consideration we have a 21% taxes over the stuff u buy, and a plus 10% for tech stuff, we are doomed.
A 250 dollars item here cost 250x3x7 or 8 or 9.... it depends of the item and the blue dollar... but u can see where im going with this.
Re:Summary is Crap (Score:0, Informative)
Inflation is intended and on purpose.
Plus inflation is only a problem for banks and people who hoard money, not for the masses who live with around with what they get every month. When people cry rivers about inflation you immediately know if they serve the rich or the poor.
Re:Summary is Crap (Score:5, Informative)
THIS. I own a software company in Argentina. We used to design our own hardware too, and we manufactured overseas. We did some manufacturing and all of the assembling in Argentina. We were steadily moving towards more local manufacturing. The low Shenzhen prices made it hard, but we where making progress in that direction. All of a sudden, getting dollars and sending them overseas was more expensive and harder every month. Then the overreach of non-automatic licenses destroyed us (you have to request permission 90 days in advance to maybe get a limited import quota of certain items). In the meanwhile, the big hardware stores (Garbarino, Fravega, etc.) continued to bring all-chinese products into the country without issues, even those competing with our products. We had to shut down most of our hardware operations. We put more emphasis on our SAS products. We almost went bankrupt several times, in the end, we made it, but it left us weak and in debt. Some of that debt where taxes. They quickly froze our accounts and took their toll. We've paid most of it, and we're growing again. Well, until the government decides to change the rules in favor of the owners of this country again.
I hear people accusing the Kirschner administracion of being socialists. This isn't fucking socialism, this is a systematic plan to destroy what's left of our economy, while spending more and more money every day on free lunches for the unwashed masses that keep voting for this fucking stupid cunt.
I will be very fucking surprised if anything is left after this bastards are done with our country.