Thailand’S Teflon Economy Finally Seems To Be Cracking

[cavanami]

Thailand’s Teflon economy finally seems to be cracking

 

http://qz.com/369281/thailands-teflon-economy-finally-seems-to-be-cracking/

 

For nearly 15 years in the 2000s and early 2010s, Thailand’s economy, once one of the fastest-growing in the world, survived the effects of near-constant political turmoil, natural disasters, and worries about the country’s future in the wake of a looming royal succession. Even after the massive floods in the monsoon season of 2011 that destroyed much of the industrial estates north of Bangkok—home to auto part, disk drive, and other key manufacturing plants—Thailand’s economy rebounded strongly.

 

Even after street protests in Bangkok in May 2010 led to a brutal military crackdown in which much of the downtown wound up looking like a war zone, several major commercial buildings were torched, and at least 90 people were killed, Thailand’s economy rebounded. Tourists continued to come to the kingdom—more than 22 million in 2012, the year after the flooding—and in 2012 Thailand’s GDP grew by over 6%...

 

But the era in which Thailand’s economy could withstand any political turbulence, and continue to attract tourists and foreign investors, appears to be over. Fifteen years of political chaos has distracted Thai policymakers from making important investments in infrastructure or the country’s education system, which has never been upgraded to prepare people for a middle-income economy. In particular, Thailand’s English and information-technology classes lag badly behind those of Thailand’s regional competitors.

 

A recent article in Singapore’s Today notes that “Thailand ranks 55th out of 60 countries on the English Proficiency Index, the world’s major ranking of English-language skills. That is the lowest among Southeast Asian countries.â€...

[Guest]

Lack of invesment in Education

 

Sadly, understandable, the pay and standards to become a teacher are far too low in both Thai and farang, therefore not attracting the quality individuals required. Urgent attention should of course be given to improve matters, and it's only money that's needed, looks like we will have to print some more ..

[Flashermac]

Falling Sales Threaten Thailand’s Car-Making Supremacy in Southeast Asia

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/falling-sales-threaten-thailands-car-making-supremacy-in-southeast-asia-1427217924?mod=e2fb