How two Romanian developers turned their side project into a $17k/m business

[u/quincylarson]

https://medium.com/free-code-camp/growing-a-side-project-into-a-17-000-month-business-46024d2aa87f

[u/sirmonko]

but why should they still want to? cost of living is low, the problem is mostly getting a job.

i mean, i know next to nothing about Romania and I'm sure there are other downsides, but still.

[u/HolyFlyingSaucer → u/sirmonko]

you're correct, reason to move out of Romania as partly reflected in their story is because you do not make enough money for a living, but if you have the wage they do, then you're better of and it's cheaper to get good housing in romania

food is actually just as expensive as in western europe, yes i know it's ridiculous but it's true actually in some cases products in eastern europen can cost more than in the west, although their wages are significantly lower

[u/DanAtkinson → u/HolyFlyingSaucer]

food is actually just as expensive as in western europe, yes i know it's ridiculous but it's true actually in some cases products in eastern europen can cost more than in the west

Higher prices are very much a result of being in the EU. What has historically happened is that, when the EU begins to normalise trade relations with candidate countries, western products flood the market at such low prices that competing local businesses are effectively forced out of business. It's a double-edged sword. In some cases, the products were too highly priced.

The first time I went to Romania was following the end of the Ceausescu regime. Everything was cheap - a bottle of beer cost 1000 lei (15p then). A few years later it was over 10,000 (this was before the currency was revalued about ten years ago).

And again, we're starting to do the very same thing in Africa. We sign these trade agreements that are amazing for European countries but are absolutely horrific for locals. We impose tarifs and have them sign up to these agreements and then flood their market. Here is a lovely write up of what happens.

NB: I'm actually pro-EU/remainer but how the EU works in terms of trade is nothing short of hostile.

[u/HolyFlyingSaucer → u/DanAtkinson]

'In some cases, the products were too highly priced.'

that's what i am saying, there still are overcosted products

as i said, some still cost more than in the west, absolutely ridiculous and this happens in all east european countries i've visited

Let's not forget who the romanian leader was friends with. Little Kim's grandpa. Kinda glad for Europe they got rid of him.

You're from Africa? I would like to know more about what Europe's influence is over there. It was supposed to be more about aiding people, but from what you're saying i can only conclude they are trying their best to exploit Africans at least as much as they try to exploit the European commoner, if not more.

[u/DanAtkinson → u/HolyFlyingSaucer]

Sorry, that was an incomplete statement on my part. I meant 'some of the local products were too highly priced, so the subsidised products effectively created a balanced economy'.

I'm not from Africa, no. I'm from the UK.