In the good old days, if you were an irresponsible sort of chap ( or chappess), you could run up bad debts in one county, State, or country, and just nip across the border and do i
t again.

You only had to look at Spain's record in the 60's and 70's, when many a train robber and other undesirable person would set up a cozy little(??) home for him and his mistress.