₦airaland Forum

pansophist:
Which promise be that? Remind me abeg, make I hold you accountable

A nice wristwatch.

RodgersAkpafu:
You are still saying this wrong thing by skewing it towards women
Like I told u before, it takes two to tango

Most Men AND Women do not want to have large families here in Europe and other more advanced places of the world

Its not just the women
Haven't you heard of the MGTOW movement?

Since we last spoke on this topic, I causally ask men of all races that I could without sounding weird stylishly how many kids they want, and it has always been between 0-3 max

The lifestyle metamorphosis has made Gen Z and below see many kids as a burden

I agree that men are involved, but women, now highly educated and financially empowered, hold the aces more than men.

Saladdin:
Outstanding! One question please, what do you think about the entrepreneurship/investor visa program particularly for Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey etc.
Also, why is it not being explored by comfortable Nigerians? Since it's clear that most visa programs now are targeted at scooping the best talents across countries?

Any Nigerian who can afford at least $400K (Turkey's price) using his/her assets isn't opting for Turkey. Australia/New Zealand are too far from Africa with few Black people. The holy grail is the United States and, to an extent, Canada. The UK Innovation visa got a lot of applications from Nigerians.

Ebubu6:
Give it 10 years of deportation and America will start importing Blacks again.

The countries they desire can't populate them enough because they don't reproduce children and their own America's birth rate can't sustain their large country or challenge rivals like India and China with billions in population.

Give it 15 years maximum they'd revert again to pro immigration policies

Well, based on the analysis and rhetoric nowadays, I really doubt White Americans want to see an increased Black population in the country. But aside from India, where else will the numbers come from if not Black Africa?

The next decade would be interesting to witness.

everythingtall3:
Don't worry you won't need kissing in marriage after 1 year.

To be fair, though, romance is subjective. So, what is her romance language? And what is yours too? Also, women rate kissing higher than men. So for she to avoid kissing you says a lot. But planning marriage within two months? You also change brushes every two weeks?

pansophist:
Now that the power sector in Nigeria have been liberalised and open to investors, I foresee a huge Chinese investment and in no time, electricity will be available for all Nigerians.

This is an area I will support for the Chinese to outcompete everyone, while government conduct general oversight and compliance.

BYD already launched in Nigeria, which makes me wonder what’s cooking, because I wonder how BYD plan to scale up when electricity and charging stations are issues they have to contend with.

All in all, competition is good. If you can’t beat them, at least you can regulate them and still get handsome profits while getting the same result. It’s not different from what the gulf countries did with human capita. For example Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia etc all have a huge foreign presence.

Kuwait for example even have more foreigners living in Kuwait than citizens, but they never give citizenship, while maintaining a stronghold on their system, and deliver maximum benefits to their citizens.

So if the gulf countries can develop fast with human capita from outside the world and still retain their systems, African countries can do the same with Chinese money and expertise. There is an endless amount of money the Chinese have, and they just want a market to invest it in.

All their excessive foreign reserve can’t be used in China, which means they have to go for foreign projects from the BRI, to supporting Chinese firms, loans to foreign governments, financing foreign obligations etc .

In five years time, the world will be in a different stage. I still think Chinese competition haven’t even started. We go all see shege if we no buckle up.

China just have to avoid war and unnecessary traps the west are setting, which they are doing very well at already. Time and momentum is on their side, and they wil use it to achieve all their goals and even liberate Taiwan without firing a shot.

“Community of shared destiny for humanity”, the Chinese stated political slogan for the world will benefit everyone, and their capitalism is one of it.

Two days ago, I reminded myself that I made a promise to you, and I should fulfil it when the time comes. It is a wonderful time as an African to be alive, and special thanks to Tinubu for not antagonising the Chinese as some might have expected. Dude embraced them with both hands. Emi Lokan!

As I have stated, rather than complain, think of how to partner with the Chinese, either by selling to them or buying from them or having them set up factories in your community.

osuofia2:
Easterners ripping Easterners, Abuja to Sokoto is 1hr10 is 112k but

Demand and supply. Are the rates the same during Sallah?

I am even appalled that Igbos are against the increment. Our people inflated the prices of essential commodities during COVID and engaged in hoarding foodstuffs. The people who practice the crudest form of capitalism should not complain when they are affected.

Many southern Nigerians have the habit/belief system of trying to socialise other people's businesses, but practice capitalism in their own businesses. The cost is way too high, but that is the free market for you. If you want capitalism, it comes with its effects. The same people criticising the rates increased the cost of nose masks during COVID, increased rents for their houses/shops by unimaginable percentages, hoarded food items during Buhari's second term and jacked up the prices of imported goods.

Some even want the gov't to subsidise the cost of airfares as if the majority of Nigerians fly across the country. Honestly, there is something wrong with the majority of "educated" southern Nigerians.

emmaodet:
Does it mean they can't allow the economy to grow or shrink organically?
To let the economy adjust or float to it's intrinsic value rather than trying to prop it up.
If birth rate is going down, allow the economy adjust to it's true value

Living standards will drop. The citizens do not want that to happen, yet the citizens no wan born pikin. Na the pension system wey go collapse I dey look forward to. I won't be surprised that many will adopt euthanasia for the growing number of old people in their countries.

SixSeven:
https://youtu.be./nD_tgt3-TmA
South Korea is giving bonuses for giving birth now. Trump has also considering something like that for the US but he won't say it openly that he wants white women to give birth. The question we should ask is WHY?

You are right about Trump, but the same South Korea has doled out over $200BN in the past ten years, yet fertility rates plummeted.

Why are young people not giving birth or why are they not able to give birth?

Simple:
- Women are more educated and financially independent. They have realised there is more to life than just being childbearers. In every country across cultures and religions, the more educated and financially empowered the women are, the lower their fertility rates. This has been observed in the Middle East and Asian countries.
- Birth control. The very fact that women can deliberately control the number of children they want means the fertility rate will hardly rise. Combine this with financial freedom. Women can now live their lives without ever needing a man. That is the new normal.
- Testosterone rates too have dropped due to toxic pollutants, sedentary diets and lifestyle choices.
- Humans have gotten selfish. They have new hobbies, they want to travel to new places, eat new dishes, buy items for themselves, aka self-care etc. These lifestyle choices clash with raising and taking care of children.
- and many more.

Some will say it is as a result of not offering women rights, yet Niger Republic has a higher fertility rate than South Korea. In fact, feminism leads to a declining fertility rate. Nordic countries are adjudged to be "gender equal", yet fertility rates there are low. The French have off-days yet fertility rates have dropped. They say a high cost of living, yet poorer countries have higher fertility rates than wealthier ones.

uchman:
Live well you say bro?
How can someone be living well when the possibility of being kidnapped is so high?
Baba we dey live in fear

I agree with you regarding insecurity. As it is, any young man driving a Benz of any model in a place like Owerri is an endangered person.

I think the solution is residing in a Black dominated country that is safe or seemingly safe. Maybe because of where I live, but I prefer to live in a place where the majority look like me in the long term.

Saladdin:
Bro, you seem to be pulling out legs right? You're comparing Nambia, a ghost country with Nigeria? You're even calling Namibia's financial and tech sector to be bigger than Nigeria's?
What's 'big' about those sectors? How many of their home-grown fin-tech company dominates any list in Africa? FYI, Windhoek is Namibia and Namibia is Windhoek. Outside of that city, there's practically nothing else. Even the city was built from the scratch by the Germans.
At least in Nigeria, you have lots of vibrant cities, bustling with commerical activities with semblance of some development. Even Bayelsa, the least populated city in Nigeria is much more vibrant than that ghost country.
Kenya pales behind in comparison to Nigeria in terms of economy.
Like my Oga said, most countries in Nigeria are just mini Tarabas, mini Bayelsas and mini Osuns.

The moment I saw Namibian tech and finance sector trumps ours, I knew something was wrong with him. The data shows it all: after Kenya, our tech industry receives more VC funding than any other on the continent. I don't like including North Africans in such surveys for obvious reasons. But we are above every other country in most economic data. Only SA and Kenya can chook mouth when we talk. I am dead sure Accra has more finance deals and developments than Namibia. Namibia is to SA what Benin Republic is to us.

Namibia? Tech? What sort of tech? Botswana tried diversifying into tech, but they haven't achieved anything. If Enugu political elites sit their yansh down, they will outstrip both Namibia and Botswana. In fact, Kano can surpass both countries and the entire Sahel region. This means Kano can, and I think is or maybe with Kaduna, become the tech capital of the entire Sahel region. Furthermore, this means two states have covered more than 50% of West Africa. This means the Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia and Rivers can do the same and surpass not just the Sahel region, but the entire Central African region.

We have a lot of work to do as a country, but continent-wise, we are better off than the majority. We should address tribal bigotry and religious intolerance to tackle our insecurity challenges because those are big problems facing us.

Yes, Nigeria is bad, but the only country fully worthy of comparison when it comes to economy is South Africa and that's courtesy to the whites!

You know, I don't dispute the belief that Whites are tops in societal and infrastructural development, but when other Black people, especially Nigerians, say this, does it mean that they too accept that White people are the ones who can develop societies? Because it tells others that Black people cannot do it better unless the White man is involved.

emmanuelewumi:
If na me, I will use the first coupon of N12.5 million to pay upfront rent for 8 years at N12 million.

Then borrow N36 million against the N61 million worth of FGN bond to buy quality stocks.N36 million is equivalent to 3 years coupon, I should be able to liquidate the loan within 4 years and should be able to grow the stock bought to about N90 million in 5 years assuming a return of 20% per annum.

In about 10 year's the bonds and equities should be able to buy a primary residential property for me

Dem no dey teach this one for undergraduate studies o.

chai!

irumole1975:
If you can’t be there just kpai urself . To be honest, life isn’t worth living if one can’t be in the abroad

Are you sure you don't have to reword this? Or you mean there aren't people who live well in Nigeria without ever living abroad?

grandstar:
That Wall Street guy is an idiot. i used to have a paid X subscription.

Why would Japs or South Koreans want to emigrate to the US when they are very comfortable at home.

However, if Japan's economy continues in its current trajectory, and the Yen drops to like $1- Yen 300 in 20 years time, perhaps that might start.

South Koreans were in the top ten countries which dominated Canada's Express Entry applications. In fact, it was the only developed country up there. Nevertheless, any country that wants immigrants has to live with the fact that the majority or a significant proprotion will be Indians and Black people. Just as the world is adapting to Chinese investments, innovation and production volumes, they have to adapt to a growing world of black and brown people. No be we talk say make dem no born children.

Japanese and Koreans cannot tilt any immigration figure because their fertility rates are abysmally low. South Korea's is below 1.0 and Japan is due to follow. Not enough to populate the home turf and certainly nonexistent to send out.

LordAdam16:
now, it would have been better if someone other than the westerners was raising this issue
but we may just be nearing a situation where there will have to be participation trophies for anyone without massive deposits (russia, australia, norway) or economies of scale (countries with 200m+ population)
and europe is looking at the short end of the stick here, because as their industrial revolution lead erodes, they will not be able to generate enough wealth to fund their liabilities
for africa and the rest of the developing world, it is a tomorrow problem

-Lord

Your post encapsulates everything about the breadth and growth of Chinese ingenuity, capital and scale. It is hard to compete with them even in one's domestic turf. Forcing or requiring Chinese companies to set up production facilities in one's country isn't a problem, but the same Chinese companies would outdo even the local manufacturers. In fact, the independent Chinese companies that set up operations in foreign countries do so because of the stiff competition in China itself. An example is Chinese companies that set up coconut processing facilities in Thailand, thereby edging out local Thai producers who were dependent on the Chinese market. Now, when those Chinese companies set up operations, they were so comprehensive and detailed: they had their own farms, their own logistic operations, imported entire production lines from China and scaled up rapidly that local Thai coconut companies grumbled as they now compete for the Chinese market, not with local peers but Chinese companies themselves.

In our recycling sector, I read where a player broke down the analysis of the industry and stated that not only Chinese firms, but Indian as well, out-compete their Nigerian competitors by importing the entire production lines, giving them the ability to process all sorts of wastes and control the pricing of the raw materials since they are the biggest offtakers. The same in cassava processing as well; the biggest industrial and exporters of cassava are mostly Chinese companies. The thing I have noticed with them is how they go in all when they set up operations: they aim to control the entire process from A - Z.

For countries to stand up to the competition, they have to support their own local producers with cheap capital. Aside from cheap capital, how does one compete with the cultural advantage of a strong work ethic and ruthless discipline? Tariffs can work, but there is a limit because Chinese companies will simply reroute their exports to third-party countries for the target market. Just recently, Mexico has approved a 50% tariff on imported industrial goods from not only China, but India, South Korea and Thailand. Now, Chinese companies can go into Mexico to set up operations to target the US market. The EU cannot have a unified response to this because Chinese companies are setting up operations in Hungary and Spain, including Morocco, which has a trade agreement with the EU.

In fact, when Trump slapped the tariffs, I watched where Chinese businesses moved their goods to Lagos for eventual exports to the US. I then cross-checked the different tariffs and saw that it is lower for Benin Republic, Liberia and other West African countries. So a Chinese company wishing to avoid high US tariffs can set up operations in any of those countries and make profits. This is capitalism at its finest. Or would the West dictate to countries in the Global South to restrict Chinese investment, not just imports?

Compete or kpeme.

ScamDemicEra:
... this guy is so deluded, who will pay $1M for American visa ??

The current EB2 visa which requires the same amount gets a lot of patronage from wealthy Middle Easterners and Chinese. Wealthy people will want to invest to gain residence in one of the two superpowers.

Tvegas:
Trump doesn't just doesn't get it . If he doesn't stop his rhetorics against immigrants no one will buy these visas. When you call most nations in the world "disgraced" and "shithole" they will rather avoid your country.

That's not the target market. He criticises Muslims but hobnobs with rich Saudis.

Trump is all about the money!

Flangelo12:
The same people that just agreed that citizenship should not be for the rich, would still come here to call his idea the best thing since sliced bread.

Wealthy people have ALWAYS been able to purchase citizenship or residency for time immemorial. So, why is it surprising or seemingly bad because Donald Trump introduces his?

grandstar:
What is important now is 24hour power supply and the country seems close to achieving that now.

Coverage comes second. Thankfully now, mini-power grids are now possible, so connecting new communities won't be that expensive.
A shout out must go to China where overinvestment in solar energy has left to a crash in the prices of solar panels.
Nigeria should do itself a favor by bringing the duty on solar panels to Zero to encourage its deployment.

Mr Rodgers in the UK cries in oVeRcApAcItY and domestic providers not being able to survive.

RodgersAkpafu:
One thing i believe the Nigerian govt under President Obasanjo got very right is the Pioneer Legislation application to the cement industry where we have local capacity to produce our own cement, even though people complain it is more expensive than the imported ones.

Unfortunately, unlike China where cement na water, ours is way more expensive. Shouldn't we rather look for ways to ensure costs get reduced to their barest minimum while production efficiency increases? Nevertheless, it is nice to read that you support a leaf from China's book. Protect thy industry, but don't be jealous when your manufacturers cannot compete favourably in a neutral market/ground o.

When you think about the multiplier effect of the jobs created by BUA × Dangote Group, the VAT, WHT and CIT and PIT paid to the govt, and the list goes on, it outstrip any cost savings that importation would have brought

Agreed. However, one of the causes for the high rents we have nationwide is high cement prices. Maybe if imports were allowed alongside having a weak naira.

Benin Republic wants to take the other way, and they will soon realise why that is a mistake

This means cement from Nigeria cannot be currently sold in the country, and even its regulated imports come from North Africa.

A Google AI description of Benin:

Benin sets fixed retail prices for cement and monitors compliance, often deploying task forces to ensure stability and fairness.

Why would a country FIX cement prices?! Is this the country I am told is better than Nigeria? Jesus Christ of Ikot Ekpene! Fix cement prices?!

There is a reason why the textile industry is dead in Nigeria, despite them producing quality textiles and jobs and aggregate demand
Well, we shall see

Okay, we block imports and the Chinese set up factories in Nigeria, then we complain that the Chinese are dominating our textile industries The question is: did the Chinese prevent us from doing the same? The competition here isn't just financial, but cultural and genetic.

People should re-learn, unlearn and learn or perish. People should learn to compete.

RodgersAkpafu:
You people would not get it, even if it is explained to you like a 6 year old, so i wont bother to further explain what those who have an understanding of what dumping is, and how dangerous it is, especially for developing countries

Yes, Pakistan is a beneficiary in this sense, and ir is wonderful to see how it is "solving" their problems.
but think of the many countries whose industries and companies cant compete with the Chinese because of state backed subsidies.
What of the domestic electricity producers who MAY go bust because of this?

Every major company/industry gets favourable grants/subsides from the governments. Innonson, NORD motors, Air Peace, Dangote, etc. It is perfectly normal across the world for countries to favour certain companies and industries. Soon, the Tinubu administration will either ban the imports of solar or introduce high levies. The result will see Chinese companies setting up factories in Nigeria. The question is: does this stop American or European firms from doing the same?

Domestic electricity producers in Pakistan should adapt or go out of business. Isn't that capitalism again? Import solar panels and sell to the grid. It is called competition. Invest in electricity ventures that are cheaper than solar such as biofuels from a major cash crop. The Indonesian gov't is supporting the conversion of palm oil into fuel. They signed an agreement with Brazil, where sugar/corn/cassava/soybeans are major raw materials for ethanol/biofuel production. So, compete or go out of existence. The problem many Westerners have is that they don't want to compete, or they clearly know that they are unable to compete with the Chinese. And yes, it is cultural as well as genetic. The Chinese are ruthless when competing because they work harder, longer, diligently, and efficiently than many other groups out there. But that is life - change is constant. The subsidy rhetoric is too outdated because many in the West have yet to grasp who they are competing with. The supply chain in China is unparalleled, more math and engineering grads than any other country, people with a ruthless work ethic, drive and ambition to excel, a supportive government, cheap and plenty of available energy, cheap lands for expansion etc.

As for currency devaluation, that is moot as every country does it to their advantage. The dollar has devalued by circa 10% this year. The naira has devalued against other currencies. Our cocoa is cheaper than Ghanaian cocoa.

It was not the Chinese who told the Germans to SHUT DOWN active nuclear plants or go against Russian gas. It was not the Chinese who told Europeans to adopt nEt zErO or the EU to be the Mother of Regulations rather than easing permits for construction and growth.

It boils down to poverty and "impoverishment" so ill understand why people from these countries cheer this on.

It is called competition. Why should it be different because it is the Chinese? For all its worth, the Chinese make up roughly 1/4 of the world's population, so it is natural to have it as a major producer, and now number one producer due to its non-demographic advantages.

BTW, it is not like the Chinese are not interested in buying products from the EU, but due to racial bromance and America's bullying, ASML cannot sell the latest equipment to the Chinese. In your world, this should mean the Chinese let go of their AI dreams rather than build their own version? Are countries not supposed to chart their own course?

See here: the rest of the world, and I write this as someone who studied, lived, observed and work with the Chinese: we should learn from them rather than antagonising them. These people are brilliant, hard-working, diligent and go-getters. For one, we should instil strong math skills amongst our people.

---

That said, the PM approved the mega Chinese embassy. Big Daddy Wins again.

nigeriansamurai:
you wetin you dey talk, the Kenya and South Africa you dey talk about, used to be heavily influenced by Nigeria as a matter of fact we where better than them. But while they have been growing all this while what has Nigeria been doing? Do you think if we were still in 2007, Nigeria would have allowed 3 of her neighbors carry out successful coups.
Yes, you can easily make up a list of countries that make Nigeria look like paradise, but one thing is certain we are not as powerful as we used to be. And E suppose dey pain every reasonable Nigerian, once again a large economy is not stable economy.
Ok, militarily look at our conscription rates. Do you think in the next 30 years Nigeria would be able to project half the military strength she has today (knowing our military power comes from size not tech capabilities)? Why do you think now Trump has the balls to trash talk Nigeria?
Nigeria has never been internationally weaker than we are today and that is a fact.

Nigeria's military failures have to do with the infiltration by jihadists and an incompetent/tribal focused elite class.

Kudos to Kenyans and South Africa (right from time), but no country in the sub-region is better off than Nigeria. Actually, as a sub-region, we have a long way to go. Remove the coastal areas in West Africa and we are at par with parts of Central Africa. Yes, we really should improve.

This is not fair, and I sincerely sympathise with him.

Paragon311:
The Naira value is killing purchasing power of the people....

IJGB Folks can do much after exchange to Naira.....

Few sector will still cash out though..

Maybe if they remain within Lagos, but flying upandown with this 300K and 400K flight tickets I see go finish the money quick, considering it is cheaper to spend the holidays in the Caribbean than Lagos (using Nigerians in the US as a case study).

nedu666:
Kpangolo statistics. How did they know 1.2 m lodged in hotels etc. How do they know how much they spent. Does it mean majority that came in December don't have private homes

How many have private homes in Lagos that they prefer to vacate in rather than elsewhere with private homes?
How come the prices in Lagos are way higher than anywhere in the country, yet demand keeps rising?
For those who have private homes, how many are willing to accommodate well-wishers in them while catering to their wants and needs?

Many netizens tend to forget that Lagos is West Africa's wealthiest city.

JooEeL:
The man's money will reflect on her... while her own money will reflect in her bank account.
Let's face it: its not like the women point a gun to the head of men... most nigerian men are naturally stupid and have no self-worth. We tend to feel so miserable that we almost consider it a taboo to evn spend on ourselves and look like true human beings.
Man go make small rabba, next thing hin go dey look for na how to shower it on a woman who never loved him when he was without it. Who do us like this, o God!

Low self esteem
Most of these men are/were closer to their mothers than their fathers
They have been deprived of sex from their teenage years due to religion and traditional influences.

It is something I grew up with and noticed. To an extent, even with a mother who is not Igbo, it got passed on to my sister. However, after observing how we have more Igbo ladies espousing Ndi ifeminisini rhetoric, I consider it an archaic tradition. The men are not benefiting anything if the women they toil for so much reward them by having female children who behave like men and fight men every day. Since children at an early age tend to be closer to their mother, it makes sense to show off your money on women who don't breed young women who fight men for a living.

ibechris:
Abuja has more gold digger than any state in Nigeria.

Lazy men who like to live soft life and doesn't work any where.

Men who typically target hard working single ladies for marriage but end up deceiving them and reaping them off financially.

Bros,

Does it mean there are more financially stable young women in Abuja than men? Why are the men so "lazy"? Please define lazy here.

Saladdin:
Brilliant as expected! It is even arguable that Nigeria is the only economic giant on the continent that is wholly built and run by BLACKS. Lagos is the defacto Economic capital of the whole subregion.

Tensa20 will always tell me how he saw more exotic cars in Lagos than where he lives in Chile, and I will always remind him that Lagos is West Africa's wealthiest city o. It is expected. Nigeria is the wealthiest country in West Africa and extends even to Central Africa. There are some industries that exist in Nigeria that do not exist in most countries in both regions.

As for the racial angle, I began to analyse things from that side because I reside in a country with few Blacks. So, I began to question and read up a lot about Black dominated countries, and so far, there are few competitors to Nigeria. It is why I keep hammering on us as Black men to develop our lands because nothing beats living in your functioning and prosperous land.

Let Tinubu clamp down on insecurity in all forms; Banditry, Ritual killings etc and watch the investment flow even more. Oga Emma is also spot on. Because not matter how much of a shithole Nigeria is, you're statistically likely to thrive economically here than in other parts of sub-saharan Africa bar South Africa and to a lesser extent, Kenya.

The security angle is very important. Due to the worsening insecurity, I think too many Nigerians are residing in places where there is a skill mismatch and a high cost of living. I support Nigerians who might relocate to Cotonou for security reasons, but certainly not for economic purposes because some of the countries are mini-Adamawas, Kadunas and Bayeslas. The aspect of strong currencies have been debated several times here.

In a nutshell: a strong currency makes sense when the country has high-value natural resources with a small population OR high-value manufactured goods/strong services sector with a small population. Anything else, a strong currency is a bad thing for any country. Island nations are excluded. Beyond having a strong currency, what is the job market like for the natives? Are there good or okay jobs for young people? What is their purchasing power parity?

Kaczynski:
South africa and their neighbours are much better than nigeria. After south, east africa.
West africa day move back wards

Security wise, Southern Africa is way stable and peaceful than every part of the continent, and there is a reason for that. For West Africa, the most prosperous countries are those with regions abut to the Atlantic Ocean.

WriteerNg:

---

That babe lied to your friend.

Sierra Leone has one of the weakest currency in Africa.

1 USD = 22,000 of their money

1000 Naira = 15,000 of their money.

Only CFAs and Cedis is stronger than Naira.

Yes, she lied, but he kept countering my stance. I had to Google the currency situation of the country, and I saw an article explaining the whole issue. Some countries' economic situations are so bad I write them off even without reading anything about them.