munKNEE.com Your Key to Making Money
South America’s countries still rank quite high for investing, thanks to their smaller debt loads, emerging
market fundamentals, and relatively high economic freedom and the lifestyle options on the continent are also very attractive. Let’s take a brief look at the situation in all but 4 of the countries there.
The above comments are edited excerpts from an article* by Darren Kaiser (DarrenKaiser.com) entitled Taking the Pulse of South America.
The following article is presented courtesy of Lorimer Wilson, editor of www.munKNEE.com (Your Key to Making Money!) and has been edited, abridged and/or reformatted (some sub-titles and bold/italics emphases) for the sake of clarity and brevity to ensure a fast and easy read. This paragraph must be included in any article re-posting to avoid copyright infringement.
Click on Facebook for latest articles on gold/silver & economic/financial matters from munKNEE.com
Click on Twitter for latest tweets from munKNEE.com
Subscribe to the FREE Market Intelligence Report newsletter (sample here)
Kaiser goes on to say in further edited excerpts:
Argentina
Argentina gets a lot of bad press these days thanks to its protectionist style of government, double-digit inflation, capital controls, and blatant corruption.
It’s obvious that Argentina has its share of problems, not the least of which is inflation. However, if you have your savings in another, more stable currency, the cost of living in Argentina these days is very appealing. Some of the more mountainous and touristy regions of the country had their busiest season ever this year, thanks to foreigners taking advantage of the low prices, high-quality cuisine, and spectacular scenery.
Brazil
Generally speaking, Brazil has not been as popular of a place for expats from a lifestyle perspective as other countries in South America but Brazil has definitely attracted its fair share of investment dollars over the last several years. The size of the economy and the growth of the middle class in Brazil mean big opportunities for those who are willing to deal with the corruption and red tape.
Chile
Chile has gained a lot of attention over the last couple of years as a business-friendly country. Recently it has received some criticism for its new left-leaning president, Michelle Bachelet. Higher taxes and lower copper prices have put a damper on the rapid growth the country saw over the last several years. That said, there still are a number of very attractive aspects of gaining some exposure to the country. Chile’s current economic freedom score is 78.7 (ranked #7 globally, ahead of the U.S.), and its debt-to-GDP ratio is the lowest on the continent, quoted as 12% but actually lower than this, thanks to the country’s $21 billion USD stabilization fund.
The cost of living is relatively high in Chile; however, the type of lifestyle that’s available here is hard to find in many other parts of the world. Plus, there are lots of possibilities for talented entrepreneurs. Violent crime rates are very low (lower than in the U.S.), property rights are very strong, and the rule of law is highly respected.
Colombia
Colombia definitely stands out as one of the more attractive countries in South America today. The country’s current government is free-market oriented, and it has a growing middle class and lots of untapped natural resources.
There’s plenty of opportunity in Colombia. Bilingual entrepreneurs shouldn’t have any trouble finding problems to solve and/or creating wealth in agriculture, real estate, commerce, and technology. That said, there are some drawbacks to consider. Corruption is a problem in the country, and violent crime rates, although falling, are still the second highest on the continent.
Ecuador
Ecuador is another country that has attracted a lot of foreigners, especially retirees. The cost of living is very low: food, fuel, rent, labor, and so forth cost less in Ecuador than in most other parts of the continent.
Rafael Correa, the country’s populist president, was elected for a third term in 2013. He will still be in charge for a number of years, and future economic growth will probably be limited.
Panama
Panama, though not in South America, is still worth mentioning.
Having been one of the most popular expat destinations in Latin America over the last several years, it seems like it could be taking a turn for the worse in the near future. The new president, Juan Carlos Varela, thinks he can solve the problem of rising food prices with price controls—a plan that will obviously affect the country in negative ways.
If you’re already set up in Panama, running for the exits probably isn’t necessary. However, if you’re currently thinking of setting up shop in the country, the recent shift from a more business-oriented government to a less business-oriented one is worth taking into consideration.
Paraguay
Paraguay could be attractive for more adventurous expats looking to internationalize themselves. It’s probably the most “wild West”-like country on the continent. Its relatively easy residency program and large tracts of very cheap land have already drawn a number foreigners to the country. (It takes around four years to legally become naturalized and obtain a passport in Paraguay. Be very cautious of those who tell you otherwise.)
Peru
Peru hasn’t been a popular international diversification destination. However, it does have some appealing aspects, especially for mining or engineering professionals. The current political leadership is classified as being left leaning, but the country’s president, Ollanta Humala, has made some more business-friendly decisions over the last year. The cost of living in Peru is generally quite low, especially outside of Lima. Peru’s debt-to-GDP ratio is about 15%, making it the second lowest in South America.
Uruguay
Uruguay used to be a popular country for foreigners looking to establish residency. However, as residency requirements have become more stringent, interest has waned to an extent. Compared to other South American countries, the cost of living in Uruguay is relatively high. The county’s left-leaning political leadership makes future growth prospects limited.
Venezuela
Venezuela, even though an incredibly beautiful country with large oil reserves, doesn’t make much sense from an international diversification perspective. It has one of the highest violent crime rates and a low standard of living, with frequent shortages of essentials. Venezuela’s current economic freedom score is 36.3 (meaning it’s ranked #175, placing it two spots behind Iran).
Venezuela could be of interest from a contrarian point of view if you’re looking to buy when there’s blood in the streets; but for most, the level of risk involved with investing or even spending time in the country is too high.
Editor’s Note: The author’s views and conclusions in the above article are unaltered and no personal comments have been included to maintain the integrity of the original post. Furthermore, the views, conclusions and any recommendations offered in this article are not to be construed as an endorsement of such by the editor.
*http://www.internationalman.com/articles/taking-the-pulse-of-south-america (Copyright © 2014 Casey Research, LLC.)
Related Articles:
Loll in the lap of inexpensive luxury at any one of International Living’s 10 best retirement destinations: North America (1); Central America (2); South America (3); Europe (2); Asia (2) Words: 1155 Read More »
It’s time to look at the very best places in Mexico to retire with real pro’s and con’s so the reader can really make an informed decisions on where to go that serves their needs, interests and ambitions. Read on! Read More »
3. Retiring? Here are 9 Countries in Asia Worth Considering
More and more retirees are looking to retire abroad where the sun shines almost daily, the weather is temperate, the lifestyle is enjoyable and the cost of living is a fraction of their current expenses. Have you ever considered Asia? This infographic compares the cost of living, lifestyle and personal safety of 9 countries worth considering. Words: 999; Photos: 5 Read More »
4. The 5 Best Retirement Cities in Asia
Everyone’s interpretation of ideal weather isn’t the same – some want to spend their golden years soaking up the sun, while others prefer a place where they can be near ski slopes. That said, if you’re looking for what most of us would consider pleasant weather—places with plenty of sunshine, low amounts of rain or snow, fewest days below 32 degrees or above 90 degrees and low humidity—these locales came to mind as 10 of the best places [in the U.S.] to retire if weather is your main concern. Words: 585 Read More »
6. Mexico Is One of the 10 Best Countries to Retire In – Here Are the Other 9 and the Reasons Why
Rising costs in the U.S. are driving more people to consider retirement in less expensive locales and the list of potential resting spots is long and varied. International Living compiles annual lists on the best places to retire based on things like cost of living, ease of entry, healthcare, insurance and access to amenities. [Below are their top 10.] Words: 950 Read More »
7. Canada is a Great Place to Retire – Here’s Why
While [Green Valley] Arizona, [Naples] Florida, [Ajijic – Mexico or Mendoza – Argentina,] or some hidden island in a foreign land, might seem like the dream place to live out the end of one’s life, it turns out that Canadians just might be better off at home [and Americans and others should seriously consider emigrating to Canada sooner than later]. Here is a brief summary of the reasons why. Words: 842 Read More »
8. Where Does Your Country Rank as “Best” in World to Live?
Canadians are the second happiest group in the world, after Australia, according to the results of a new study in which citizens of 34 countries were able to rate their own country on the things that made them feel they were experiencing a happy life. Where do the United Kingdom and the United States rank themselves? Read on! Words: 517 Read More »
9. 5 Places to Retire and Rent for Less Than $500 Per Month
Housing is likely to be one of your biggest retirement expenses. One way to approach your search for the ideal overseas retirement haven is to focus on retire-overseas choices where housing is cheap. [Below I present five such places for your consideration.] Words: 1040 Read More »
10. Thinking About Retirement? Here Are the World’s 25 Best Places To Do So
International Living magazine released its annual Retirement Index of the best retirement destination in the world. The U.S. reached #15. You will never guess which country was #1! Words: 495 Read More »
