I was born
in Brazil, I have lived in Chile for two years and I am in Colombia for the
past 26 years. I also travel a lot and I have stayed long times abroad,
particularly in India, but also in England and the U.S.
And I realize
that if someone lives in a first-world or third-world country is difficult to
understand I don’t live in either of them… I am living in the middle, and since
I was a child.
Particularly
during the dictatorial military period in Brazil, I didn’t like the idea of
belonging to the third world, the reality of the time; it was around then that
the term developing countries[1]
got popularized and Brazil was quickly classified like that.
Initially
it just sound like a polite way to say the same – and it still has that ring in
it – but along the years, what I have seen is that by developing in a proper and integral way, a country can reach the
first world. That is a firm belief I have that any country could be a first world country, and so giving their
population a better life. This is why I am posting this.
I lived in
Chile just after Pinochet has left, so it was still underdeveloped. By seeing
its growth and the fact that now it is part of the first world club[2]…
I don’t want to get into the debate (is
it or not?), but I have seen sure signs even when I was living there that
may be useful for other countries:
- A respect for taxes. I was really surprised when I bought
something in the streets and I got a boleta
(invoice), as street business is often informal. Later, I would have a glimpse
of this that comes from a good use of tax-payers’ money and a nice system. For
instance, a common way of taxes evasion is to enter the country with a product
in the bag. Once, I went from Buenos Aires to Santiago with a friend who had
several books in her bag; at the time of customs, she went straight to the
agent and showed the books and the invoice. As books don’t pay tax, he just looked
at it and he allowed us to go. Even when there is the need of paying, it is
quite easy and fair. Quick summary: by
educating people to value paying taxes and by using them in a proper way, a
country develops.
- Training. There is a system that motivates companies to
do training as the value can be discounted in their taxes declaration. As I was
a trainer myself, that came very handy and I do miss a system like that, living
in Colombia. By giving opportunities for
others to be trained and learned different skills, a country develops.
- Awareness of opportunity. Chile is the land of opportunity
and if a foreigner goes there and dedicates himself or herself, it is possible
to climb very high; although I can’t say if it is like that for nationals, it
looked as it is. Although it is a relatively small country in terms of
population, this gives a big advantage in relation to neighbor countries. By changing the perception instead of lacking to an opportunity, a country
has a better chance for development.
- Work, work and work. Chileans work very hard and it has
been helping the country at the time of climbing the ladder of first world. But
it is not only hard working, as I would include Colombians in that category too;
Chileans are often very much success-driven, which creates a nice dynamic in the
country in general. Stimulate work, but direct
it towards attaining success.
- Little corruption. That is the most impressive part of living in
Chile… Little to say about that, really, just check corruption indexes[3],
and it comes just after Uruguay in the whole Latin America. It really stimulates the economy to know
people won’t use their power for personal advantage. And maybe that is why
people do pay taxes. Very simple: educate
people to not get tempted by corruption and the country will develop even more.
[1]
More about this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country
[2] Check this updated webpage: https://www.investopedia.com/updates/top-developing-countries/
[3] Transparency is an organization
that watches on this. Check their report: https://www.transparency.org/cpi2018?gclid=Cj0KCQjwoebsBRCHARIsAC3JP0LljKEMfPQThn-eICRMPMfw1Ktqf-053RPAQsFHqbEIwQ194VfJZCwaAn1sEALw_wcB
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