BRAZIL: EXPAT SALARY PURCHASING POWER PARITY

Brazil: Expatriate Salary Purchasing Power Parity

By Jim Shattuck April 15, 2011 Let me start out by saying that I am neither an economist nor a human resources professional. I'm sharing here some information I have learned from mining the depths of Google, trying to stitch it all together into a coherent post. Learning about the comparative realities of living here or in the USA (I'm sticking to just one country for simplicity's sake) is both fun for the expat ("I knew I wasn't crazy - that shit is expensive!") and cautionary for the lovebirds contemplating a move figuring it will all work out somehow (goddess bless them!). The first thing to understand is that economies are different on many different levels: the price of things, the salaries people can earn, the taxes one pays, the non-cash (and deferred cash) benefits people earn over time, how value depreciates over time, how the banking and credit systems operate, what services are provided by the government, etc. In the case of Brazil and the USA - believe me - they are two different worlds that do not easily equate/translate. Most travelers think in terms of the currency exchange rate: "Oh Brazil will be an affordable vacation destination; the exchange rate is in our favor, unlike London (for example)." Which may well be true, but moving here to live, work and retire is another matter altogether. For the new resident, the impulse is to do a quick calculation in your head converting currencies to decide if something is expensive or not. But currency exchange rates give misleading

RAISING AMERICAN CHILDREN IN BRAZIL

Here is a story that I came across.  Something that I can relate to, except my wife and I are both American but nevertheless we are raising our children in Brazil.  Enjoy

Raising American Children in Brazil

By David Persons February 15, 2011   Back in the USA my wife (Brazilian) and I never really gave much thought to raising our family in Brazil, since we were well established there, but late 2006 as we felt the crisis coming we started to discuss the possibilities of international relocation. Since the US economy was heading towards a collapse and by mid 2007 we had made the final decision to relocate to Brazil after carefully considering the alternatives... By relocating we would be able to maintain a similar quality of life and continue private schooling for our children, which was and has always been our priority from the beginning. We then made the "Move" internationally, we loaded up our house into a container and shipped it out. In 45 days our home would arrive so we had

HOW TO SUCEED IN NEW LIFE ABROAD

Why Expats Fail to Make a Go of a New Life Abroad

By Susan Beverley / Escape From America Magazine

Most Common Reasons Why Expats Fail to Make a Go of a New Life Abroad

Escaping from the dull drudgery of our everyday lives is a dream increasingly shared by individuals from across the world.  It seems we all believe to some degree that the grass probably could be greener elsewhere!  New horizons beckon and suggest adventure and excitement, and so for many people the dream of moving abroad slowly but surely becomes a reality.

The chance to change our lives is a thrilling challenge, and the act of making a go of it abroad can lead to all sorts of new opportunities; however, for some people becoming an expatriate and an international citizen is not all it’s cracked up to be.

You definitely need a certain something to embrace the expatriate lifestyle in all its glory, but why do some people love living abroad whilst others return home with their tail between their legs?  Is it a case of integration issues or culture shock?  Is expat flu a reality rather than a myth, or are the problems that force expatriates to repatriate purely money orientated?

In this report we’re going to take a look at the most common reasons why expats fail to make a go of a new life abroad – so that you can protect against the same issues and mistakes.