It would seem to me that the average retiree in Thailand is more valuable to the economy than the average Thai, but the TAT does nothing to encourage more retirees to come here.

Over the years I have seen government figures that suggest only about 30 percent of Thais pay income tax as the tax free threshold is 150K per year, and being generous. lets say the average salary in Thailand is 12000K per month, you can see why. 

Now, I am far from rich but I do spend 35-40K per month here.

That would suggest that financially I am worth 3 Thais economically, every year.

Wouldn't it make more sense to encourage 150K Retirees to come here rather than the same number of Indian or Chinese whose daily spend rate in the Thai economy is believed to be quite low.

The Retiree is a resource that keeps on giving year after year..

Or am I missing something?

 

rogerpattaya

Retiree's do not pay income tax, so I do not understand what your point is, unless it is to say that Retiree's prop up the economy with expenditures here in the country.  They seek tourists because they believe that the two week millionaires will arrive and dump money here.

You honestly think that less than 0.2% of the population matter ? 

24 minutes ago, rogerpattaya said:

That would suggest that financially I am worth 3 Thais economically, every year.

and politically, a Thai is worth 100000000 falangs

and in reality, a Thai is worth 100000000000000000 falangs

and in the eyes of all Thais and the law, a Thai is worth 100000000000000000000 falangs

 

40k a month is nothing at all.  impossible to matter to anyone, so you have no leverage.

 

Then a Thai goes to falangland and sees 100,000 homeless and say , "I am worth more than all of you, combined!!!"

 

 

25 minutes ago, rogerpattaya said:

Or am I missing something?

There are approx 68 million Thais, expats have little meaning to the majority! 

Retirees only register with Thais at the local level, the vast majority of Thais don't even know we exist.

The money we spend may help one family, not more.

3 hours ago, rogerpattaya said:

Or am I missing something?

Yes. 

Centuries old Thai "pride" of never been colonized still strongly prevails today. Thais do not want too many farang in the country permanently.  They don't want foreign influence other than Chinese, and that's why they rarely look outside the country for (already proven) solutions to problems.  "Thai know better than farang. Thai know best". And as you can see given very restrictive property rights to foreigners, it's "policy and traditions" to let in as few farang as possible. Our expat money spent in Thailand is a mere pittance against the 68 million Thais spending and billions the Government spends annually.

The contribution of Chinese and Indians is not thought  to be quite low by anybody  who is actually informed about such matters. Its just a conceit of white people.

White people are not God's gift to creation nor the tourist  economy  of the world

Yeah, but without us, the fruit shake business would collapse.

 

I'm good for about 5 a week. That's just me alone.