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When digital nomads come to town
And other stories from the frontlines of global mobility
Anna Codrea-Rado
October 24, 2023
Welcome to Borderless. Every week, we handpick the best links on digital nomads, remote work and global mobility to help you navigate the quirks of living and working on the internet.
The way we move around the world is changing. On the one hand, global mobility is becoming more common, flexible and inclusive. On the other hand, however, it’s being held back by uneven economic development, government restrictions, and cultural differences.
The stories in this week’s issue show the ways global mobility is evolving around us, from proposed changes to tax rules for remote workers and concerns over nomad gentrification, to the question of whether aviation can ever be sustainable.
Oh, and stick around until the end, where you’ll find a great story about a company that pays all its remote workers the same wage (can you guess the company? 👀)
Wherever you are in the world right now, have a joyful and productive week.
The United Nation’s tax committee is considering changing a rule to allow countries to tax remote workers who live in other countries. The UN is still discussing the proposed change, but it is a sign that countries are trying to find new ways to tax remote workers.
Mike Lavan for KPMG
In Colombia and Mexico, high-earning nomads are driving up rents and displacing locals. “The more nomads arrive, the more these locations begin to resemble one another. Building exteriors retain their historic character, but interiors converge to a sterile homogeneity of hotdesking, free charging outlets, affordable coffee, and Wi-Fi with purchase.” Stories like this often play on nomad stereotypes, but it’s super important we don’t overlook our impact as travelers.
Stephen Witt for Rest of World
How we think about institutions defines our social and political landscape. From national governments and media organizations to universities and even the concept of family, there are lots of things we call “institutions”. But what do we actually mean by that? And what should you do if you don’t believe in them?
Vitalik Buterin for vitalik.eth.limo
In the early days of the internet, metaphors like "information superhighway," "global village" and "cyberspace" helped us make sense of it. While some of those terms have fallen out of use, others (see: “the cloud”) cropped up in their place. But can a single metaphor ever adequately describe the internet?
Josh Dzieza for The Verge
Nomads face the difficult question of whether to feel guilty about flying. With new fuels and technologies emerging, sustainable aviation is possible. However, the growing "flight-free" movement argues that the only way to fly sustainably is to not fly at all…
JD Shadel for Condé Nast Traveller
You guessed it: it’s SafetyWing. All our employees are paid the same salary, regardless of location. As CEO Sondre Rasch says: “People often counter the policy with points about the different costs of living, but is it fair to pay someone who lives in a poorer part of town a lower salary? No.” 😜
Megan Carnegie for Wired
🗳️ Poll: Are nomads pricing out locals?What do you think?👇 |