[TriLUG] [OT] Lesson in global economics

[Mike M]

I am in discussions with a Romanian telecom operator.  I've failed in 
previous attempts to close business with Romanians.  This time I decided to 
learn something about software system economics in Eastern Europe.  I offered 
to work at the same rate as a Romanian programmer. (Why not?  There's nothing 
wrong with Romanian programmers. Their circumstances keep them from being on 
the cutting edge of contrived technology.) Here is what I received:

"In Romania the average income is near 100 USD / month ... and for a good
programmer I think is about 300$/month.  Please give me the estimation of the 
effort and I will try to calculate it ."

I knew it would be low, but I never guessed it would be *that* low.  It 
doesn't take a Chicago economist to figure the effect that lowered trade 
barriers and fiber optics will have on first world economies.  There is going 
to be a massive redistribution of wealth.  

Of course Linux and Open Source software are redistributing technological 
wealth.  Is that a good thing?  Hopefully a philosophical argument will 
ensue. :)  I see the argument from a frontline position.  My earning power 
has been seriously impacted in the current economic climate.  Should I expect 
to be earning 10-40 times more than Romanians?

I want to do the project the Romanians think they want:  an open source IMT 
to PRI switch.  It probably has wide applications in the second world.  
Anybody else interested?
-- 
Mike M.