BowTiedMara - Geoarbitrage & Mobility Assets

BowTiedMara - Geoarbitrage & Mobility Assets Substack explores the interplay of economics, individual sovereignty, and mobility in a global context, with a focus on Argentina. It addresses topics like geoarbitrage, real estate, digital currencies, and sovereign living, emphasizing strategies for navigating economic instability and maximizing personal freedom.

Economic Analysis Digital Currencies and Privacy Geoarbitrage Real Estate Investment Sovereign Individualism Argentina's Political and Economic Landscape Mobility and Migration Historical Events and Their Impacts

The hottest Substack posts of BowTiedMara - Geoarbitrage & Mobility Assets

And their main takeaways

The Province of Argenfornia

235 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💾 History Exploration
  1. Argentina conquered California for six days, boosting its GDP
  2. Frenchman Hipólito Bouchard played a key role in the conquest
  3. Bouchard's actions impacted the flags of Honduras and Nicaragua

Tomb Raiders: A National Passtime

235 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Mystery Sports History Death
  1. Argentina has a history of bizarre tomb desecrations and superstitions surrounding famous figures like Eva Perón and Diego Maradona.
  2. The theft of Eva Perón's body and the curse of dead cats at Racing Club highlight the macabre relationship with former idols in Argentina.
  3. Superstition and mystery surround the desecration of Perón's tomb and Maradona's burial without his heart, showing famous bodies can't rest peacefully in Argentina.

Trends in Buenos Aires Real Estate

157 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💰 Finance Real Estate Investment Property Management Construction
  1. Average prices for apartments in Buenos Aires vary by neighborhood, with popular areas like Palermo and Recoleta having higher prices.
  2. Neighborhoods in the northern corridor of the city have average prices around $3,000/m2, while other areas like Villa Crespo offer good value below Palermo pricing.
  3. Investing in new developments in Buenos Aires' real estate market can be more attractive due to lower construction costs despite a devaluation in the currency.

IMF or FML?

137 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Economy Debt Inflation Financial Stability
  1. IMF renewed agreement with Argentina and released $4.7 billion USD from 2018 loan
  2. Argentina may move towards dollarization at a faster rate than expected
  3. IMF projects a 150% inflation rate for Argentina by the end of the year, with GDP predicted to drop 2.8%
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Individual Sovereignty in the Age of Cashless Societies

235 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Digital Payments IMF Argentina
  1. The push towards cashless societies is driven by narratives of convenience, safety, and financial inclusion, but it also impacts privacy.
  2. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) pose a threat to decentralized transactions and individual control over finances.
  3. In regions like the Southern Cone, the transition to digital payments is accelerating, but the shadow economy and cash transactions still play a significant role.

Digital Migrants & Coercive Immobility

157 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Global Governance International relations Human Rights Emergency Response
  1. State control over citizens' mobility is increasing through mechanisms like passports and digital IDs.
  2. The introduction of CBDCs and digital IDs can enable coercive immobility, restricting individuals' movements and spending.
  3. Opting out of the digital panopticon may become challenging, and choosing a jurisdiction with less State enforcement might be a key strategy for the future.

CBDCs and Future Black Markets

216 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Government Regulation Economic Implications
  1. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are becoming inevitable in a cashless society.
  2. Privacy options in a cashless society are diminishing, leading to the potential rise of 'Freedom markets' for private transactions.
  3. In a CBDC world, alternative options like Monero, traditional coins like gold, and potential crackdowns on onramps and offramps need to be considered for financial resiliency.

Cuevas: The Knights of the Free Market

137 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
💰 Finance Operations Risks
  1. Cuevas in Argentina offer exchange rates that are more favorable than the official rates.
  2. Cuevas operate as a parallel market where USD can be freely bought and sold without restrictions.
  3. Establishing trust with Cuevas allows for convenient and secure exchanges, providing access to cash or stablecoins.

Currency Arbitrage for Real Estate in Argentina

137 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
💰 Finance Real Estate Investments
  1. Currency arbitrage can be utilized when buying real estate in Argentina through payment plans in USD or pesos.
  2. Investing in new construction projects in Argentina requires due diligence on the construction company's track record and the payment structures, such as Fideicomiso or SA/SRL.
  3. Non-residents can access payment plans for real estate in Argentina, leading to opportunities for profitable investments and potential currency arbitrage.

The Argentine Dream: Aristotle Onassis

196 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
💾 History Biography Wealth Family Argentina Legacy
  1. Aristotle Onassis went from a broke nomad to the world's richest man by making his fortune in Argentina.
  2. Onassis used unconventional methods like insider trading, bribery, and eavesdropping to increase his wealth.
  3. Family tragedies marked the downfall of the Onassis empire, with deaths, divorces, and misfortunes impacting future generations.

YPF: the laundromat of the century

157 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Corruption Energy Lawsuit Fraud
  1. YPF, the national oil company of Argentina, was involved in a massive financial fraud through expropriation and private dealings.
  2. A small group of politicians and businessmen profited billions from YPF without investing their own money.
  3. Despite clear irregularities and financial loopholes, those involved in the scandal are unlikely to face prosecution or jail time for receiving billions at the taxpayer's expense.

Farmland & Ranching in Argentina

176 implied HN points • 08 May 23
💼 Business Agriculture Real Estate Investing Market Analysis Economic Development
  1. Farmland in Argentina varies in price based on region and quality, offering opportunities for investment.
  2. Argentina's agricultural landscape is diverse, with regions specializing in different crops like soy, wheat, and corn.
  3. Ranching in Argentina is significant, with a large number of farms dedicated to bovine production and potential for increased meat exports.

Sovereign Individuals detected in Argentina?

176 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Government International Law Sovereignty Activism Civil Liberties
  1. A couple and their children in Argentina refused to show ID, claiming to be 'citizens of the world'.
  2. They faced legal consequences for not following national laws and ended up in a situation involving federal authorities.
  3. The incident raises questions about personal sovereignty and the balance between individual freedom and state regulations.

When shared dreams are built on nightmares

137 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Crime Corruption Legal system Human Rights Justice System
  1. The Schoklender case involves a parricide in Argentina that led to a corruption case of epic proportions under the guise of human rights and social housing.
  2. The brothers involved in the Schoklender case were convicted for brutally assassinating their parents, triggering a series of events including their escape and eventual arrest.
  3. Despite serving time in jail, one of the brothers involved in the Schoklender case became a self-taught lawyer and later got involved in a major corruption scandal in Argentina.

Outlaws flee to freedom in the Southern Cone

157 implied HN points • 18 May 23
💾 History Argentina
  1. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fled to Argentina to escape US authorities, attracted by the lack of state oversight and vast land for disappearing.
  2. The duo settled in Patagonia, built a ranch, raised sheep, and tried to live peacefully, but eventually returned to crime in Argentina and Bolivia.
  3. The infamous outlaws met their fate in Bolivia, where Butch Cassidy killed the Sundance Kid before committing suicide, ending their legendary criminal partnership.

Old pandemics: Yellow Fever in Buenos Aires

137 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
💾 History Pandemics Hygiene Immigration
  1. The yellow fever pandemic in Buenos Aires in 1871 was devastating, with a high death toll of about 11-15% of the city's population.
  2. Hygiene standards in Buenos Aires in the 1870s were lacking, leading to ideal breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
  3. The Chacarita Cemetery in Buenos Aires, a result of the yellow fever pandemic, is a hidden gem with historical significance and famous burials.

A Tale of Two Currencies

137 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Currency Inflation Monetary Policy Central Bank Financial Crisis
  1. Argentina has a history of economic turmoil with multiple currency crises and hyperinflations.
  2. The government deficit in Argentina has grown significantly since 2011, leading to economic challenges.
  3. Potential solutions for Argentina's economic crisis include complete dollarization, adopting a Bitcoin standard, or exploring joint currencies with other countries like China.