The time is ripe to end economic protectionism

[webfact]

 

By Volthai

Rather amusingly, in recent weeks, I have found myself assaulted by a plague of illogic coming from the protected capitalists that dominate Thailand’s economic landscape.

 

They allege, with an almost palpable sense of fear, that the emerging “Move Forward” initiative is a looming anti-capitalist specter that could spell a bleak future for the local stock market.

 

It’s as if they have conveniently chosen to forget the dark underbelly of Siamese capitalism: the monopolies, the oligopolies, and the noxious tentacles of crony capitalism that have constricted our markets for far too long.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/49701/the-time-is-ripe-to-end-economic-protectionism/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2023-05-18

 

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[nglodnig]

Smash capitalism!

 

Replace it with something else!

 

We don't know what to replace it with, but we'll think of  something after we've destroyed the global economic system.

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, nglodnig said:

We don't know what to replace it with, but we'll think of  something after we've destroyed the global economic system.

No, that's not the point. The point is that capitalism is severely limited in many industries due to protectionist policies.

 

Take beer brewers for example. You're either in the club or you're not - the exact opposite of a free market and it's designed to prevent any new competition.

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

They allege, with an almost palpable sense of fear, that the emerging “Move Forward” initiative is a looming anti-capitalist specter that could spell a bleak future for the local stock market.

I'm not saying capitalism is the answer, it has it's own downsides but I have no issue with breaking up the elite family monopolies which dominate the Thai markets.

[LivinLOS]

These are fundamental outcomes of a clan based society. Within such cultures the rights of the clan or group is more important than the rights of the individual.
 

Hence breaking, bending, or co-opting laws to the benefit of the clan which in turn enables corruption, is necessary.

The citizen pays the price, in less choice, worse services, and higher pricing. You see this in everything from beer options, to car prices and choice, to transport cartels, etc etc. It permeates everything. 

[spidermike007]

Take beer, for example. For some, craft beer is associated with anti-establishment politics. “It’s very similar to the French Revolution, which started from a cafe in Paris, where people drank coffee,” says Taopiphop. “The fuel of the revolution is not coffee any more, it’s craft beer.” Taopiphop adds that, after the 2014 coup in Thailand, many pro-democracy activists chose to meet in Bangkok’s craft beer bars.

If only the younger Thais were allowed to express themselves, be inventive, be creative, be industrious, and use their smarts and ambition, Thailand could have a future. Craft beer is needed here, and so are the young entrepreneurs. But, that future appears to be suppressed at every turn by dinosaurs, who only answer to money, money, and even more money. Money is the God of lesser men. The money first attitude is holding back Thailand on so many levels.

 

Then they could lower wine taxes, to a more reasonable 60%. It would stimulate and create a multi billion dollar industry here, and help to attract well heeled tourists. Same applies to luxury taxes. Lower them to 20%. Imported vehicle taxes too. Get smart. Stop the stupidity!

[h90]

So he is angry that he doesn't get a cheap variety of beer and calls that capitalism....
Hint: mix of government and companies is called fascism and capitalism, better free markets, is the solution not the problem.

[n8sail]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Take beer, for example. For some, craft beer is associated with anti-establishment politics. “It’s very similar to the French Revolution, which started from a cafe in Paris, where people drank coffee,” says Taopiphop. “The fuel of the revolution is not coffee any more, it’s craft beer.” Taopiphop adds that, after the 2014 coup in Thailand, many pro-democracy activists chose to meet in Bangkok’s craft beer bars.

If only the younger Thais were allowed to express themselves, be inventive, be creative, be industrious, and use their smarts and ambition, Thailand could have a future. Craft beer is needed here, and so are the young entrepreneurs. But, that future appears to be suppressed at every turn by dinosaurs, who only answer to money, money, and even more money. Money is the God of lesser men. The money first attitude is holding back Thailand on so many levels.

 

Then they could lower wine taxes, to a more reasonable 60%. It would stimulate and create a multi billion dollar industry here, and help to attract well heeled tourists. Same applies to luxury taxes. Lower them to 20%. Imported vehicle taxes too. Get smart. Stop the stupidity!

I agree about reducing taxes on things like wine and other 'luxury' things that would draw in foreign tourists.  Same for microbreweries.  Been to a few in Bangkok, some are excellent and indeed you run into some political dissidents in them.  It's refreshing, both literally and figuratively.

However, even though I would love to someday have a BMW or Porsche or Mercedes, and could easily afford one in the USA...  could you imagine the carnage on the roads if every Somchai could buy a base model 3 series for $43,800/less than 1.5 million baht!??   Literally half of the households in Thailand would pile on debt to buy a new Beemer or Benz for that much money.  Traffic and pollution and road safety would suffer.  I don't think it's a bad move to keep these cars VERY expensive as it prevents most people from being able to buy them.

 

All that said, it's incredible how many of these cars are on the road even with the ridiculous prices.  Rayong seems to have more luxury cars than even the very wealthy Northeast USA state that I grew up in.

[bignok]

6 hours ago, nglodnig said:

Smash capitalism!

 

Replace it with something else!

 

We don't know what to replace it with, but we'll think of  something after we've destroyed the global economic system.

Protectionism is socialism! Pure capitalism is free markets.

[John Drake]

CP and the Pizza Guy just lifted their eyebrows and grunted.

[fusion58]

Capitalism only succeeds where there’s a level playing field which allows for open/free competition. These oligarchs and plutocrats benefit from a system of laissez-faire capitalism and cronyism which is analogous to a football game with no rules and no refs. That’s how you get 2008. Those who fail to learn from history…