Geostud, yes, it's Latin America, big sponsor of unfair distribution of income and basic services.. the areas that generate more for the government will get benefits and the part that they see more as a burden is preferably forgotten and more likely to turn into a zone of growing discontent, poverty, vandalism, etc.. you can go to the south of Buenos Aires in this case, at a reasonable hour like 9 pm and someone out of the blue will show you a knife and ask you for your camera/purse/whatever (this happened to me) whereas in the north (Palermo, etc) you can take a walk at 4 am and you're more likely to find drunken Americans fooling around or locals smoking together on a sidewalk.. it's very safe.. safe as any "nice" area in a place like California or NYC.
I loved Palermo but to tell you the truth, if I go back to BAs, I'll probably rent a place in the south, in San Telmo or Boedo.. it definitely has more sketchy areas but the atmosphere down there feels more artistic and genuine.. I met some amazing people in Palermo but most were the kind that drool over the whole mall culture or imported goods/traditions .. whenever I'd stay or party in ST or Boedo, the environment felt quintessentially Argentinean, from the maté-drinking men, the sounds of tango coming out of houses, lace shops, people with insane imagination and strong intellectualism.. it's a zone that, imo, captures the argentinean spirit a lot better, if that's what you're looking for.
sorry for the lengthy response.
, not to mention the architecture and spirit of the area, which feels more decadent and humble than Palermo. I'd definitely go back just to live there myself. 
That's where I live.
but North Scotland 
