Faced with the need to cover the fiscal deficit, governments – in general – tend to resort to uncreative measures, such as taxing the population, which limits the possibilities of expanding consumption, drawing dollars from families and thereby affecting aggregate demand. so important for the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Therefore, we should look for other, much more imaginative options for increasing tax revenues. In this sense, with honorable exceptions, Ecuadorian politicians would be a permanent and inexhaustible source of resources if, it must be assumed, we could establish a progressive tax for every stupid thing they say, and even defend it enthusiastically.

For example, Luisa González, the Correismo presidential candidate, during a radio interview, without even blushing and with a conviction that seemed forged in steel, asserted that Venezuelans are “running back to their country because it is safer than Ecuador… . and has better living conditions.”

However, it is enough to look at the numbers to expose this misconception. Thus, the Venezuelan Financial Observatory reports that the economy shrank by 7.6% during the first quarter of 2023 and by 6.3% in the second quarter. So, technically, we are talking about a recession because it has accumulated two consecutive quarters with negative GDP growth. Added to that is inflation of 439% on an annual level, that is, an unstoppable rise in the prices of goods and services, which is reflected in the lower purchasing power of the population.

Venezuela, better than Ecuador?

As can be understood, in this recession scenario, consumption, investment and production fall, unemployment rises and this vicious circle closes, entailing huge economic and social costs.

(…) it’s an insult… to the 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants spread around the world…

On the other hand, by 2022, according to InSight Crime, Venezuela will lead the region in terms of the problem of violence, with a homicide rate of 40.4 per hundred thousand inhabitants, while in Ecuador the index was 25.9. It is true that in both cases the statistics are frightening, catastrophic.

Therefore, to claim that there are currently better living conditions in Venezuela than in Ecuador is not only an insult and a slap to the 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants spread around the world (including almost 475,000 people scattered in the country. ), but to ignore the harsh reality that is visible on the economic and security field in which Venezuelans live under the rule of Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

Undoubtedly, it was an unfortunate statement by Luisa González, who, however, far from seeing the gross mistake made by putting Venezuela as a comparative reference, which would be a sign of political maturity, now, rather, tries to place the blame for that statement on the journalist with whom he talked and even introduces the concept: “I was thinking about physical survival”.

Because of this, there will be no shortage of Venezuelans who will ask in the middle of the street with some sarcasm: Chamo, what are you doing here? (OR)