Digital nomad

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A digital nomad (also Internet nomad , office nomad , urban nomad ) is an entrepreneur or employee who almost exclusively uses digital technologies to do his job and at the same time lead a rather location-independent or multilocal life.

Origin of the term

In his work Understanding Media , published in 1964, the Canadian media scientist Marshall McLuhan formulated the thesis that in the electronic age people will become “ nomadic information collectors”. In his vision of the future, The World of Tomorrow , the French publicist Jacques Attali distinguishes between three classes: the elite of the “hypernomads”, the “virtual nomads” and the disadvantaged “infranomads”. The term digital nomad was eventually coined by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners.

Working method

Digital nomads typically work on the go. Your workplace is mostly where there is internet access . As a rule, these are professions that, thanks to the Internet, can carry out their work independently of a permanent place of work.

The professions of the digital nomads are very diverse. Many run websites or blogs and monetize the content through advertising or selling digital products. The operation of information portals, online communities and forums also fall into this category. Others work as authors or translators. A large number of digital nomads are active in online marketing, affiliate marketing or e-commerce . Technical professions such as graphic designer , web designer or software developer are also well suited for this. Others earn their living through project-related work, consulting services or lectures. These rarely require a specific location. Many photographers can be found among the "digital nomads".

“Digital nomads” inevitably use technologies such as smartphones , tablet PCs , WiFi and web-based applications. Typically, in most places, they are able to make an income. “Digital nomads” often work from cafés, coworking spaces , hostels and other locations with WiFi. Countries with a well-developed technical infrastructure are therefore preferred by “digital nomads” so that they can continue to pursue their jobs.

The first German conference for “digital nomads”, DNX , took place in 2014 in Berlin's Betahaus. Digital nomads - Germany moves out is the first German-language documentary film about the life of people who live and work regardless of location.

criticism

Whether and when digital nomads work illegally in the country of residence is controversial both by the workers themselves and by government agencies.

As a rule, digital nomads only stay in the host country for a few months at a time. Most digital nomads only have one tourist visa , which does not allow work in most countries. In this respect, a common point of criticism is that digital nomads are illegal workers.

However, countries usually do not allow immigrants and tourists to work without a work permit because of this, in order to protect the local population from competition in job search. Proponents of the digital work model are of the opinion that local labor laws do not apply to digital nomads as long as their customers are in another country.

Immigration officials tend to be confused about how to treat digital nomads. Most countries have no laws that address the legality and illegality of digital work. Without concrete laws, it is unclear whether the physical seat of the worker, the location of the server or that of the customer is decisive for the assessment of legality .

In addition, digital nomads are increasingly taking advantage of their status as permanent travelers in order to avoid tax liability in their home countries, but without immigrating to the tax system of another country.

Individual states are on the way to offering digital government services. In this way, government services can be used regardless of physical location. One example is the Estonian e-residency .

The economist Reinhard Loske criticizes the optimistic expectations and writes: "Digital capitalism will also subject sharing and exchange to its laws, rob it of idealistic and altruistic motives and transform it into a huge commercial event."

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Marshall McLuhan: Understanding Media . Routledge Classics, Abingdon / New York 2001, ISBN 0-415-25397-7 , pp. 309, 391 (first edition: 1964).
  2. ↑ Tom Holert: Genius loci - New Economy, Refugee Policy and the New Geography of "Intelligence". In: Telepolis . May 11, 2000, archived from the original on March 5, 2016 ; Retrieved August 20, 2015 .
  3. ^ Jacques Attali: The world of tomorrow: A little story of the future . Parthas, 2008, ISBN 3-86601-027-3 .
  4. ↑ Nomads at last. In: The Economist. April 10, 2008, accessed August 20, 2015 .
  5. ↑ They are called “digital nomads” and work when and where they want. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013 ; Retrieved August 2, 2012 .
  6. ↑ This is how digital nomads earn their money while traveling. Retrieved September 17, 2013 .
  7. ↑ A month of digital nomads . ( Memento from January 9, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) diginomade.de
  8. ↑ Digital nomads - Germany moves out. Retrieved April 19, 2015 (documentary).
  9. ↑ Can Digital Nomads legally work in Thailand? - Chiang Mai Locator, Wiki. Retrieved August 29, 2017 .
  10. ↑ THE LEGALITY OF BEING A DIGITAL NOMAD | Chiang Mai Buddy . In: Chiang Mai Buddy . ( chiangmaibuddy.com [accessed August 29, 2017]).
  11. ↑ Live Updates: Immigration Crackdown in Chaing Mai, Thailand. Retrieved August 29, 2017 .
  12. ↑ Leaving the system - my way to tax and bureaucracy freedom. Retrieved June 3, 2018 .
  13. ^ E-Residency - New Digital Nation. Retrieved August 29, 2017 (American English).
  14. ↑ Digitization / Work 4.0 , page 138