The Third-World Freelancing Advantage
Poor US Dollar! Compared to my currency (the Philippine Peso), it has lost over one-fifth of its value. But it’s still all about the Benjamins, especially in a country where making $70,000 a year means you’re pretty much set for life.
As a freelancer hailing from the so-called third world, I believe that we are in a unique position to not only make good money, but help our own countries as well.
The Benefit of Low-Cost Living
Here in my country, the daily minimum wage is less than $10. In other words, anyone over here earning “as little as $10 a [blog] post” is already beating the curve by writing one post a day. What if their employer rewarded more prolific production?
It’s easier nowadays for “first-world” employers to hire quality “third-world” talent. Clients get more for their money, while contract workers can earn enough to live quite comfortably. The benefit of low-cost living is that people can price themselves competitively lower, while making a decent living.
Attracting Foreign Capital
On top of that, freelancers from developing countries can be unconsciously patriotic. As they get paid by foreign employers, these contract workers will end up spending their hard-earned money in their own country. Some would believe that this benefits the local economy, since money is being brought into the system from outside.
Freelancers working for employers from developed countries sounds a lot like my own country’s OFW phenomenon: too many of my skilled countrymen, finding no opportunity here, take contracts abroad. Their aim is to make a decent living and send some money home to their families. They also put in foreign capital into the Philippines.
But the difference is that while Overseas Filipino Workers have to toil away in a foreign country, away from friends and family, freelancers can use the Internet to stay home while making money. Aside from being close to loved ones, they get to spend all of their income in their home country, unlike workers overseas.
In short, even if third-world countries have their problems, there are still numerous opportunities for those who are looking for them. So long as the US Dollar remains almighty compared to certain countries’ currencies, and so long as the Internet is there to make collaboration possible between a client and worker from different countries, the third-world advantage will always be there.
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POSTED IN: Ramblings of a Freelancer
3 opinions for The Third-World Freelancing Advantage
Karla
Apr 11, 2008 at 11:37 am
“But the difference is that while Overseas Filipino Workers have to toil away in a foreign country, away from friends and family, freelancers can use the Internet to stay home while making money.”
You’re right. I’m actually having second thoughts about moving abroad, which was my plan three years ago, now that I find I (and all of us Pinoy freelancers) can actually compete with the rest of the world and still stay “home.” And yes, I find that more first-world companies are sending work to us here because we’re still less expensive.
ka edong
Apr 15, 2008 at 2:28 am
Agree!
In the same token, it’s also easier and more rewarding for Filipino bloggers to succeed in monetizing their blogs.
A pinoy earning Php40,000 per month just needs to earn $1,000 from his blog to and he has doubled his income.
On the other hand, to double his income, an American earning $10,000 will need to generate 10x more traffic and 10x more blog revenues compared to his Filipino counterpart.
Pinoy bloggers and Pinoy freelance Netpreneurs are in a position of advantage ;-) .
67fastback
May 20, 2008 at 2:33 pm
There are sites that even specialize in connecting third-world freelancers with buyers in first-world countries. Try SerebraConnect.com. They are new but seem to have a very well thought out system that includes methods for freelancers to receive payment anywhere in the world.
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