Thailand

Thailand, which means "Land of the Free", is the only country in Southeast Asia never to be colonized by a European power. Thailand's growing economy relies heavily on exports of rice, jute, tapioca and other agricultural products. Thailand is the number one rice exporter in the world and the second largest tungsten producer. Sixty-two percent of the population is involved in agriculture, and many of these are subsistence and tenant farmers. Poverty and malnutrition are common among the working class.

Thais are concerned about the greed and materialism that seem to dictate current Thai government policies. The booming business climate brings many social problems. Rural people, unable to earn an adequate living, are lured by the excitement and consumer culture of prosperous Bangkok, the capital city. Migration to the city often leads to living in slums surrounding the city. Most of the economic growth in Thailand has centered in Bangkok and land subsistence there is depleting the water table.

Thailand has been caught in the vortex of the Asian economic problems, and the future challenges for economic stability are great.

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