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Interesting is when some of the poorer countries in Europe have lower incomes than what most consider third world countries in Asia or Latin America.
For example, average income in Serbia is lower than Peru, Thailand, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Average income in Bulgaria is lower than Brazil, Mexico, China and Malaysia.
Interesting is when some of the poorer countries in Europe have lower incomes than what most consider third world countries in Asia or Latin America.
I wouldn’t call it interesting, just good ol’ fashion corruption. Eastern European countries have been poor for a while now, and they continue to struggle to get over their former Soviet Union past, influence, and culture of corruption.
First World= developed, prosperous countries like the U.S. and Canada.
Second World= developing countries moving towards prosperity like Russia, China, and Mexico.
Third World= countries mired in poverty with little likelihood of improvement like Haiti, and most of Africa.
Since end of cold war I think the consensus have moved away from geopolitical factions is now used to reference a developing or poorer country. So where do we draw the line?
In the "five words of less" thread many people determined that China is not a third world country, and I don't get it. Sure China has first-tier mega cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc. but China's average annual wages are about 11k and there are hundreds of millions that lack very basic things that the poor in USA take for granted.
So what defines a third world country in 2019?
It's an archaic term as it originally relates to the cold war. Third World has no official meaning or qualifier.
I think the politically correct term to use now is "developing country". China has it's own seperate classification - that of a newly advanced economy where they are highly developed yet still have components of a developing country. In fact there is a group acronym for economy beancounters - BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
Interesting is when some of the poorer countries in Europe have lower incomes than what most consider third world countries in Asia or Latin America.
For example, average income in Serbia is lower than Peru, Thailand, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Average income in Bulgaria is lower than Brazil, Mexico, China and Malaysia.
Poor eastern European countries = developing countries = economically third world countries
Since end of cold war I think the consensus have moved away from geopolitical factions is now used to reference a developing or poorer country. So where do we draw the line?
In the "five words of less" thread many people determined that China is not a third world country, and I don't get it. Sure China has first-tier mega cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc. but China's average annual wages are about 11k and there are hundreds of millions that lack very basic things that the poor in USA take for granted.
So what defines a third world country in 2019?
1) Take flight to San Diego. Great place to visit, most any time, cheap from West Coast (lucky for some).
2) Take Blue Line train southbound, paying only a few dollars, accessible at many locations.
3) Maybe half hour later, exit San Ysidro, literal end of the line. It's kind of interesting, because...you're < 300m from border. Look it up on Google Street View if curious, it's interesting at the very end.
4) Follow others to pedestrian walk into Mexico. There are guards with FALs (machine guns) on the Mexican side. No one checked any docs when I went through this way, four years ago, and I just kept walking with many others.
5) Walk to cab stand, can't miss it, not too far away. I wouldn't exit anywhere else, personally, as walking around is unhealthy for tourists there they say.
6) Use pidgin Spanish for various destinations, which seems to always cost about $5 USD. Personally, I like the street vendors for various food. Delicious, cheap. Sodas from sealed cans or bottles. I haven't gotten sick on said-food, which doesn't mean you can't, but...
Look around on the way, you're in the Third World baby. Believe it. Stay clear of the police, any of several flavors, if you can.
Oh, PS: getting back on foot may or may not take awhile. You'll have your passport and SENTRI, of course, and will be questioned by US Customs (ICE or whoever it is) plus run a gauntlet of dogs, probably.
P.P.S.: Given unrest and violence with invading enemy nationals in the news these days, may wish to try this another time assuming things calm down and/or enemy is walled off effectively from illegal entry to the USA.
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