Entire reseller websites (e.g. g2a) of games and software alike have popped up trying to profit from this arbitrage opportunity. You buy games in Russia and an American scoops up the license key for a little more, it’s all automated too nowadays.
On the same note, why are Levi’s jeans $100 bucks in Europe, but $40 in the USA? They’re probably coming out of the same Asian factory. Not an economist but different value propositions I guess.
Neither does Vietnam (one of the places Levi’s are produced nowadays) and the US, the pants are imported and duties are levied regardless of whether the pants are sold in Europe or the US.
I’m sure sales tax is less in pretty much every US state compared to European countries, but it still doesn’t explain a $60 difference in price. It’s largely different price points based on different locales in accordance with what consumers are willing to shell out for the product.
On the same note, why are Levi’s jeans $100 bucks in Europe, but $40 in the USA? They’re probably coming out of the same Asian factory. Not an economist but different value propositions I guess.