World Bank revises Thai GDP forecast for the year to 8.3 percent contraction

By THE NATION

 

 

The World Bank expects Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) to contract 8.3 percent this year, more than the earlier estimate of minus 5 per cent.

 

The bank expects the economy to expand by 4.9 per cent next year, with more than two years required for the economy to return to pre-Covid-19 levels.

 

Kiatipong Ariyapruchya, World Bank’s senior country economist for Thailand, added that political uncertainty was another factor affecting the economy at this time, in addition to the Covid-19 situation in the country or natural disaster.

 

Pro-democracy protesters gather at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on September 19.

 

He explained that these factors could lower investor confidence and cause the Thai economy to contract 10.4 per cent. In such a scenario, the economy would grow only 3.5 per cent in 2021, and would take at least three to recover from the virus crisis.

 

The World Bank also estimates that the economy in the East Asia and Pacific region will grow by 0.9 per cent in 2020, the lowest rate since 1967. It also expects China's economy to contract by 1.8 per cent in the first half of this year, and by 4.0 per cent on average in the rest of the region.

 

Political uncertainty is another factor affecting the Thai economy, apart from Covid-19 or natural disaster, says the World Bank.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30395336

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-09-30

 

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I guess the major problem in Thailand is that the contraction, though less than many other nations, is highly focussed on one sector...tourism.....and that hurts a lot of the 'little' people.

 

In other nations the contractions have been more widely spread?

7 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I guess the major problem in Thailand is that the contraction, though less than many other nations, is highly focussed on one sector...tourism.....and that hurts a lot of the 'little' people.

 

In other nations the contractions have been more widely spread?

This is the problem faced when the Economy relies upon just 2 main drivers

Tourism and Exports. When they both take a hit the Economy will suffer badly.

Look at today’s mighty Baht:  up over most western currencies.  Methinks a contraction in double digits forthcoming.