Thailand – South/Southeast Asia – Blase Biello

Kingdom of Thailand

Flag of Thailand

Quick Facts:
 Capital City: Bangkok
 Official Language: Thai
 Government: Unitary Parliamentary Democracy & Constitutional Monarchy
 Population (2011): 66,720,153
 GDP(2011): Total: $332.47 billion (24th in the world)
                      Per capita: $5,174 (84th in the world)                      More facts here

Thailand’s Economy
Thailand actually has an emerging and blossoming economy. Over the years it has been continuously positively growing raking in more and more cash annually. It has been considered a “newly industrialized country”. In 2010, Thailand had a GDP growth of 7.8% in 2010 making it the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia. However, Thailand still has the second largest economy in Southeast Asia behind Indonesia. Thailand is a country that makes most of it’s economy’s money by exports. Exports make up 2/3 of Thailand’s GDP. In fact, Thailand exports are worth over $105 billion annually.

Thailand Main/Major Exports: 
 -Rice (1st in world)

 -Vehicles
 -Electrical Appliances
 -Fish
 -Rubber
 -Grain
 -Sugar
 -Computers/electronics
 -Jewelry                         ---> More export info here

Thailand Workforce
Approximately 38 million people are employed in Thailand with a low unemployment rate of 0.7%.

Percentages of Workforce Separated by 3 Main Thailand Industries

Thailand Major Industries: 
 -Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 
       • World's largest exporter of rice
       • Major exporter of shrimp
       • The strong agriculture industry has helped Thailand's transition to an industrialized economy.
 -Industry and manufacturing 
        • Over 40% of Thailand's GDP is from this industry.
 -Energy 
 -Services 
        • Over 40% of Thailand's GDP / Over 30% of Thailand's workforce
 -Tourism 
                     • 6% of GDP  ---> More on Thailand Tourism here
 -Banking and finances 

Thailand Consumerism 
Based on the report, “Historical Development of Consumerism in Thai Society”,  by Professor Dr. Wichard Wayke; in the past, Thai society was able to grow off of itself and was a very self-supporting society. Thailand didn’t rely on heavy production. In the 1850’s when King Rama IV took throne, the society has  converted into capitalism; resulting in “degradation of natural resources”. This is an early look at how consumerism has negatively affected their society/country dating back to the 1800s.

King Rama IV

Constitutional monarchy finally came in 1932, and the social classes seemed to find more equality amongst themselves. With the constitutional monarchy, the luxuries that were only available to upper class now became available to everyone and a sense of “freedom of consumption” was established so the Thai society began to thrive and grow. Unfortunately, as the economy started growing; many people began consuming rather than producing. Often competing socially through their purchased goods due to the introduction of advertisements. This lead to a high flux of consumerism in Thai society.

Urban Thailand

According to Professor Dr. Wayke, as the economy grew, people in Thai society consumed for cultural purposes rather than to satisfy physical needs. But, once Thailand took the advice of the US and implemented the Economic and Social Development Plan in 1950; the economy rapidly developed along with the country. Industry and capitalism surged as the environment deteriorated. With this came crime, destitution, and prostitution. Also, consumption has become a huge part of Thai society because it often determines social status.

Rural Thailand

Another way that consumerism has exploited Thailand comes with the relation of urban and rural Thailand. Resources found in rural Thailand are sucked dry while the urban city thrives on the exploitations. It is safe to say that the city has grown economically while the people stuck in the rural parts of Thailand have been left behind and outcast. A great amount of the labor force has left the rural jobs and gone to the urban jobs. For example, the agriculture industry has been steadily decreasing while the industry sector rises and rises. This is a clear sign of how global consumerism has negatively effected certain parts of Thailand.

This was a very informative read and I highly recommend anyone to check it out to see how Thailand has changed over the years. Further reading can be found here. More on Thailand’s years of consumerism here.