What's Your Country of Choice?

Ken's Blog

I'm making a presentation of an idea I had to the Anguillian government. I've been showing it to various friends whose opinion I respect and it's interesting to watch how "an idea" spreads around, til finally other friends hear about it and ask me what I think.

Here's the question...

Do you feel bound to your home country? Let's assume that you are making, say, over $100,000 through your own efforts on the computer (consulting, website, part-or-full time remote employment that required no physical presence, etc.), would you stay in your country?

I read a book a few years ago...

The Sovereign Individual

... that makes a powerful argument about how knowledge workers will start regarding countries as products and start "shopping" them much like we shop any product. Instead of being regarded as an asset to be plundered, countries will be forced to start making themselves more attractive on the market to keep those who "buy" them now, and to sell others to live there.

We've seen this migration in SiteSell, where folks have moved from Canada to Ecuador, Germany to Brazil, Ireland to Nicaragua (planned), Canada to the Czech Republic back to a lower-taxed/warmer part of Canada, and probably one or two others that elude me, just off the top.

Oh yes, our family. Moved to Anguilla. Never want to see another snowflake.

Positive shopping features would be...

1) stable and safe and friendly

2) warm year-round

3) low or no taxes and/or low cost of living

4) special attractions/features

5) geographic proximity to "home" and major cities

6) quality of education if school-age children are in the picture.

So, just off the top, I'd love to hear from you on the following... given the above circumstances, would you move or stay where you are? Why? Please include general age brackets (under 30, 30-50, 50-70, 70+).

All the best,