High anxiety - Dusit poll confirms the worst as Thailand suffers in pandemic

 

Picture: Sanook

 

A Suan Dusit University poll painted a grim picture of the state of mind and finances of the Thai public in these virus infected times. 

 

The results from a sample of 1,239 people surveyed last week will come as no surprise to anyone. 

 

People were asked to comment on the top ten things concerning them apart from actually contracting Covid-19.

 

Nearly three quarters of respondents said that a rise in household expenses and a decline in their health were of most concern. 

 

Just over 67% cited a drop in salaries. 

 

Others around 60% spoke of the fears of having no chance to save, losing their jobs, increased debt, inability to pay school fees and just plain stress. 

 

Source: Sanook

 

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Will the Government here take any notice of the plight of ordinary folks here....the silence is deafening

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

Nearly three quarters of respondents said that a rise in household expenses and a decline in their health were of most concern. 

 

Just over 67% cited a drop in salaries. 

Just wait until the Thai government puts up duties and taxes in the coming months to pay for their big 2 trillion loan

 

and we all thought Thailand had loads of money in reserve lol

 

evidently not

 

tough times ahead

It should be noted that these concerns are very important to Covid 19. And, they are not just separate concerns (as the survey attempted to do), but vastly more important. Per my wife (her native Thai gets to these matters and my totally inept basic Thai doesn't) our neighbors place near 0% concern on Covid 19. Due to all the recent reports of no Covid 19 in Thailand (save people who just got here from elsewhere), our neighbors think there is not risk. But, they do talk about these financial consequences daily and are clearly deeply troubled by them. 

The NIDA statistical poll referenced in the BP today claims that almost 60% of those polled have not lowered their guard significantly or at all due to ongoing health considerations and well less than 10% claim they have significantly lowered their guard.

Edited June 1, 20206 yr by SkyFax

Worrying times for all...

Hopefully they pull through and see those lovely smiles again.

13 minutes ago, SkyFax said:

The NIDA statistical poll referenced in the BP today claims that almost 60% of those polled have not lowered their guard significantly or at all due to ongoing health considerations and well less than 10% claim they have significantly lowered their guard.

Good to hear but the government messaging needs to be much stronger that the threat from this virus isn't nearly over. Yes the step by step opening is good but in the context of understanding that it is conditional.

 

These corona virus measures could

be considered as a cull of the poor

and infirm.

Even more puzzling, then, why the THB continues to be so strong although the economic situation apparently is in such shambles. Something stinks.

 

 

Edited June 1, 20206 yr by Misterwhisper

for years, you are told, tourism is only x percent of economy

 

lol

 

honesty is not a word in a thai dictionary, nor is empathy (ambulance blockers leading to death of injured...)

3 hours ago, smedly said:

Just wait until the Thai government puts up duties and taxes in the coming months to pay for their big 2 trillion loan

 

and we all thought Thailand had loads of money in reserve lol

 

evidently not

 

tough times ahead

Money in  reserve is foreign currency which is not in the hands of the government but the central bank. 

 

But taxes will indeed go up in the future to pay off the current loans or just to service the interest. 

1 minute ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

for years, you are told, tourism is only x percent of economy

 

lol

 

honesty is not a word in a thai dictionary, nor is empathy (ambulance blockers leading to death of injured...)

You do realize there is more going on besides a lack of tourists, right?

 

Car production is down, exports are down, restaurants are empty, shopping malls are empty... this has little to do with tourism.

3 hours ago, smedly said:

Just wait until the Thai government puts up duties and taxes in the coming months to pay for their big 2 trillion loan

 

and we all thought Thailand had loads of money in reserve lol

 

evidently not

 

tough times ahead

The money is in the wrong pockets

Not another poll.

No money in the coffers to help Thai Citizens but the

baht remains Strong in the face of the staggering

Economic downturn. Puzzling.

1 minute ago, mberbae said:

Economic downturn.

Is world-wide.

21 minutes ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

for years, you are told, tourism is only x percent of economy

 

lol

 

honesty is not a word in a thai dictionary, nor is empathy (ambulance blockers leading to death of injured...)

On the contrary, honesty and empathy are expressed in many ways in the Thai language. 

 

Maybe you don't speak Thai?

 

Rooster

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Nearly three quarters of respondents said that a rise in household expenses and a decline in their health were of most concern. Just over 67% cited a drop in salaries. 

Wonder what percentage cited lack of availability of alcohol ? 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Others around 60% spoke of the fears of having no chance to save, losing their jobs, increased debt, inability to pay school fees and just plain stress.

Some Thai friends are being made redundant after June.   They are while colar people in their late 30's, early 40's.  Think things could get really bad if only civil servants keep their jobs.    

33 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

You do realize there is more going on besides a lack of tourists, right?

 

Car production is down, exports are down, restaurants are empty, shopping malls are empty... this has little to do with tourism.

"restaurants are empty, shopping malls are emptry but this has little to do with tourism"...it's an opinion that is worth what it is worth ????

this isn't even over yet, people are acting as if it is. This virus is here to stay unless a vaccine is created, a British scientist stated that there is a 50-50 chance of a functioning and effective vaccine being generated. Thailand hasn't entered it's flu season yet either! We need to learn how to adapt and live with this virus being here for the long haul 

57 minutes ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

for years, you are told, tourism is only x percent of economy

 

lol

 

honesty is not a word in a thai dictionary, nor is empathy (ambulance blockers leading to death of injured...)

Yes, I can well remember these comments over the years. For Government finance ministers dismiss ''less than 7% of GDP'' being of no, or little, concern shows a great lack of intelligence.

 

Added to the decline of tourism, another great worry is how the ''students and less-well-off'' -- who carry the vast majority of public debt -- will be able to pay-off their debts in a economy that is in decline.

Thailand is glued behind the 8 ball!

What is wrong here, Every year during the Songkron weekend about 150 people die on the road.  every year!  Corona has nothing on Thai Traffic.  Let's open up the country and just be extra careful and safe.  

????

Of course the Bht is holding it;s own compared to countries that are in worse trouble

3 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Even more puzzling, then, why the THB continues to be so strong although the economic situation apparently is in such shambles. Something stinks.

 

 

The Thai baht is measured against a basket of other currencies,the country’s of which has also had significant or worse economic damage. It is comparative so no surprise the baht has not fallen back.

1 hour ago, Jane Dough said:

On the contrary, honesty and empathy are expressed in many ways in the Thai language.

One being rarely?

The cure is starting to look worse than the disease.....

So if all the money Thailand has is in central bank reserves, does this mean it  cannot  help the declining economy ? And what happens if millions of workers loose their incomes ?

                              

             and we all thought Thailand had loads of money in reserve lol     evidently not

 

         Reserved for Military Expenses     ???????????????????