Happily, this kind of thinking hasn't really come to Thailand yet.

I guess we have other things to complain about, double pricing, codified bias against foreigners, etc. but nothing quite this EXPLICIT.

Perhaps the grass is greener HERE.

http://www.cuencahighlife.com/post/2014/04/22/Ecuadore28099s-economy-grows-faster-than-expected3b-Oil-refinery-work-progresses3b-College-students-propose-expat-tax.aspx

University students propose an expat tax

A political science club at Universidad Técnica del Norte (UTN) in Ibarra says it plans to take its campaign for an expat tax to Ecuador’s National Assembly.

Club president Javier Lara says that foreigners are often a burden on local resources and should help pay their way. “Foreign residents in Ecuador, especially in Imaburra Province, have had a negative impact on the local infrastructure. Most of them are elderly and require more services than younger, healthier residents,” he said. “They are also making it more difficult for Ecuadorians to afford to buy agricultural property that is needed to support their families. This has become a major problem in communities such as Cotacachi where a large number of foreigners have settled.”

Lara says he is in touch with several members of the National Assembly who support his efforts. “We are very encouraged about our efforts and are working with university student groups in other Latin American countries to achieve the same result.”

Ecuador is completely different from Thailand. It has never had the housing boom, demand for rentals is high, and prices have risen above what the locals can pay. Rent is not cheap in that country.

There is already an unspoken backlash. Immigration makes it very slow and difficult to get a retirement visa. They are using "tricks" like long delays to where documents expire and have to be replaced. Many have to make a couple of trips back to their homeland to get new, notarized docs. After about a year and a lot of frustration, it can probably be accomplished.

Thailand has a housing boom with many rentals available. The expats typically choose the newer more Western units, leaving the traditional Thai units for the Thais and not driving up prices. Few single or married Westerners would want to live in a remote Thai village leaving that for the Thais.

Foreigners can buy land in Ecuador, and build a house or a hotel or other business. They can work. They compete with the locals who don't have the money or the moxie.

There are many good things about Ecuador, but I think its best days for expats, especially on a budget, have passed.

Happily, this kind of thinking hasn't really come to Thailand yet.

As long as Thailand keeps its laws which do not allow expats to buy

the country it never will

Happily, this kind of thinking hasn't really come to Thailand yet.

As long as Thailand keeps its laws which do not allow expats to buy

the country it never will

I don't think it's just that. Thailand has a housing boom and oversupply of rentals. Rents are cheap and plentiful.

Ecuador hasn't had that and the expats can outbid the locals for housing. The locals are very unhappy about that and the government is slowing down the influx of expats with foot-dragging.

If only the UK could learn from Ecuador