Widespread Corruption In Thailand Undermining Business, Causing Companies To Invest Money Elsewhere

[Markaew]

Bribery is part of the problem but the laws/rules governing a start up business are ridiculous.

If a Farang wishes to start a business that will employ Thai people he 1) has to have a Thai partner or 2) Two Thai Directors.

In the case 1, The Thai partner, who may not have any money can run up debts etc and the Farang is legally responsible. While partnerships are simular in the west there are ways to control irresponsibility. This does not seem to be the same here.

Case 2. The Thai directors must have full access to the bank account.

While I trust everyone !! it makes the whole idea untenable, even if the partner is the wife.

What are the laws in the country you are from? In the US it is very strict for a foreigner to own land or work with out tonnes of paperwork and time delays and partnerships. Employee's must be from the US unless you can prove that the position requires an expat.

You need to read the laws before spouting off here. While some states have foreign ownership laws, mostly having to do with farmland and the size of a farm, there are no real federal laws about foreigners owning land. There are some laws as to foreigners logging and such on federal land, but nothing as far as owning a house or land.

As far as working, yes a work visa is a hassle, but not impossible. There are many, many foreigners legally working in the US. As a sad proof of this, about 10% of the 911 victims were foreigners.

This thread is about corruption in Thailand, not about US land ownership laws, and even then, it would be better if you got your facts straight.

Also, in the US you are not obligated to hire only US citizens with a foreign owned business. Also, you are incorrect about the difficulty of foreigners owning real estate. I have been involved with many transactions such as this and it was the same as a US citizen with additional forms. AND you can own it solely. You don't need a US citizen to be co-owner or majority owner. You are clearly trying to make points from manufactured "facts". Thais often pulls such "facts" out of their arse to justify their denial.

[ableguy]

In other news, the sun rose AGAIN this morning.

and more startling it will get dark before morning.

[FOODLOVER]

Ah, Now we are getting somewhere.

Openly acknowledging that corruption is draining the lifeblood from a country blessed with natural situation.

I have experience in this issue.

I could bring evidence to any investigator who wants to know.

I have lived in Thailand nearly seven years and am preparing to leave.

I have talked this over with all my Thai business associates.

I have taught the topic as an essay assignment for my students.

All agree that it is a wreckage, but they also despair that it is part of being Thai.

Wow, Where do we start in dealing with a system that is embedded into the life structure of the entire nation?

It is such a cancer that to cure the disease would kill the patient.

To fix corruption would cause such instability.

You'd have to dismiss the majority of public officials.

The police force would be a skeletal remnant.

If you started at a low level, you'd run into blockage at the medium and high levels.

If you started at a high level, you'd encounter hatred from the lower levels.

Little people's lives literally depend on continued corruption.

There is structure entwined with flesh in these twisted arrangements.

Real People who succeed in changing one place will be murdered, count on it.

May I suggest, The perspective is reversed.

Thailand is not in danger of becoming a backward country.

To become backward you must have at one time been straightforward.

I offer my own United States as an example, becoming more corrupt by the day.

Quoting Pisawan Achanapornkul, president of Shell Thailand,

"Would you like to see Thailand as a backward country?

Even at the Southeast Asian level?

Is this how we like to see Thailand?"

Thailand's enormous natural wealth is strangled and squandered already.

Thailand already IS a backward country.

Comparing to other Southest Asian countries is hardly the standard to achieve.

There is no future danger of companies backing away from doing business here,

it's already happened, and is happening at this moment.

Time and Opportunity have already bypassed Thailand.

I have three nice project proposals that would be well suited to Thailand's capacity,

but I have to be straightforward with the potential investors,

to say that corruption ruins all hope of profit.

Not being one to despair in the face of adversity,

I propose a small case solution.

Show me one Amphur anywhere in this nation where corruption is ruled out.

Arrange it as a special demonstration case, a Corruption Free Zone.

Let it be known that special intensity will be applied to any report of hindrance in that small place.

Apply the full authority of the federal government in investigating and prosecuting large and small cases in that place.

I assure you, that one Amphur will prosper.

It will be the Shenzhen of Thailand,

I'm referring to the sleepy little border village in China,

transformed in just 20 years by special economic zone status

to a bright and sparkling center of commerce and technology.

It wouldn't rip the country apart if one Amphur was sacrificed to be totally clean.

OK, let's reduce my claim to one Tambon

While I don't despair in the face of adversity,

I'm also not given to delusion.

Is there a man who will truly be a man in Thailand?

Is there a woman who will stand tall in the absence of men?

I'd like to meet them.

What he said!

[Deeral]

So long as it is acceptable for a "police officer" to stop any motorist withput any reason and demand 200 baht - there is no hope for a graft-free Thailand.

I do feel however that most people vastly underestimate the extent of corruption nepotism and graft in Thailand and the true extent of it's infiltration into eery aspect of life in the country.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

So long as it is acceptable for a "police officer" to stop any motorist withput any reason and demand 200 baht - there is no hope for a graft-free Thailand.

I do feel however that most people vastly underestimate the extent of corruption nepotism and graft in Thailand and the true extent of it's infiltration into eery aspect of life in the country.

These problems are all related:

Poor education for ordinary Thais

Endemic corruption at every level

Protectionism against foreign competition

Those that have - the owners of the vast majority property - want to keep their share of the pie. They have no interest in the welfare of the country as a whole. Truly opening up the country to outside competition would force them to have to be competitive, which forces benefits to be distributed fairly (= by merit) rather than by connections.

So would having a well-educated population. The "have"'s can afford to send their kids to private/international schools and/or overseas, so they can perpetuate their dynasty's hold on power and wealth. Ordinary people are stuck with an education system that doesn't allow them to even try to compete on a world-class level - hence the impression may TV'rs have that Thais are stupid.

Arbitrarily enforced laws and unpredictable corruption costs **are** holding Thailand's overall development back enormously, but it's not in the interest of those in power to fix the problem, and the ordinary people 1 can't change the situation without a violent uprising and 2 have been brainwashed by their culture that they don't even have the right to think about fixing things.

Those in power want to keep their share of the pie, and don't care if that pie is much smaller than it could be if they opened things up. They know they're not actually competitive on an international level, but as long as they can keep these "cultural" barriers up they don't have to worry about it.

Now, since we are just guests here we shouldn't care or get involved at all - spend your money and when it runs out go back home. But I do find it sad and pity the poor ordinary Thais as much as I do the Cambodians under Hun Sen or the Burmese.

Then again if Thailand were as evolved and organized and clean as Singapore I probably wouldn't enjoy living here either. We benefit from their poverty as well don't we ;-)

[Deeral]

Bribery is part of the problem but the laws/rules governing a start up business are ridiculous.

If a Farang wishes to start a business that will employ Thai people he 1) has to have a Thai partner or 2) Two Thai Directors.

In the case 1, The Thai partner, who may not have any money can run up debts etc and the Farang is legally responsible. While partnerships are simular in the west there are ways to control irresponsibility. This does not seem to be the same here.

Case 2. The Thai directors must have full access to the bank account.

While I trust everyone !! it makes the whole idea untenable, even if the partner is the wife.

What are the laws in the country you are from? In the US it is very strict for a foreigner to own land or work with out tonnes of paperwork and time delays and partnerships. Employee's must be from the US unless you can prove that the position requires an expat.

Actually these laws are PART of the nepotism and graft structure.

To cut through the red tape, what do you have to do? BRIBE and official.

To become an official what do you have to do?Be a relative or BRIBE your way in.

Unlike a democracy Thailand's "officials" police, civil servants etc have REAL power and although their wages may be small the benefits that accrue with the job are breath-taking.

But how can you stop the situation when the majority of those in power are there purely through corruption in the first place - you are asking the Thai gornerning system from top to bottom to cut off their noses to spite their own faces.

SOME CHANCE!!!

[Deeral]

So long as it is acceptable for a "police officer" to stop any motorist withput any reason and demand 200 baht - there is no hope for a graft-free Thailand.

I do feel however that most people vastly underestimate the extent of corruption nepotism and graft in Thailand and the true extent of it's infiltration into eery aspect of life in the country.

These problems are all related:

Poor education for ordinary Thais

Endemic corruption at every level

Protectionism against foreign competition

Those that have - the owners of the vast majority property - want to keep their share of the pie. They have no interest in the welfare of the country as a whole. Truly opening up the country to outside competition would force them to have to be competitive, which forces benefits to be distributed fairly (= by merit) rather than by connections.

So would having a well-educated population. The "have"'s can afford to send their kids to private/international schools and/or overseas, so they can perpetuate their dynasty's hold on power and wealth. Ordinary people are stuck with an education system that doesn't allow them to even try to compete on a world-class level - hence the impression may TV'rs have that Thais are stupid.

Arbitrarily enforced laws and unpredictable corruption costs **are** holding Thailand's overall development back enormously, but it's not in the interest of those in power to fix the problem, and the ordinary people 1 can't change the situation without a violent uprising and 2 have been brainwashed by their culture that they don't even have the right to think about fixing things.

Those in power want to keep their share of the pie, and don't care if that pie is much smaller than it could be if they opened things up. They know they're not actually competitive on an international level, but as long as they can keep these "cultural" barriers up they don't have to worry about it.

Now, since we are just guests here we shouldn't care or get involved at all - spend your money and when it runs out go back home. But I do find it sad and pity the poor ordinary Thais as much as I do the Cambodians under Hun Sen or the Burmese.

Then again if Thailand were as evolved and organized and clean as Singapore I probably wouldn't enjoy living here either. We benefit from their poverty as well don't we ;-)

Tend to agree - but Singapore has had to "relax" a lot of petty regulation over the past few years as they realised it was dampening creativity.evwery country has problems in some areas to some extent - I was amazed at the bureaucracy in Oz - but when it comes to corruption, Thailand makes even Italy look clean.

[markinoc]

Bribery is part of the problem but the laws/rules governing a start up business are ridiculous.

If a Farang wishes to start a business that will employ Thai people he 1) has to have a Thai partner or 2) Two Thai Directors.

In the case 1, The Thai partner, who may not have any money can run up debts etc and the Farang is legally responsible. While partnerships are simular in the west there are ways to control irresponsibility. This does not seem to be the same here.

Case 2. The Thai directors must have full access to the bank account.

While I trust everyone !! it makes the whole idea untenable, even if the partner is the wife.

What are the laws in the country you are from? In the US it is very strict for a foreigner to own land or work with out tonnes of paperwork and time delays and partnerships. Employee's must be from the US unless you can prove that the position requires an expat.

That is not true. Anyone with money can own land in the US and can also own a business with out a partner! But it is true that the employees must be legal residents for work purposes. I sold a house to some Mexican citizens with out any special process and my Chinese friend started a business with out any American partner. No bribery was involved in either case, just the money to invest.

[spacebass]

Better start with the Politions now as they have already started bribing the Thai voters with Holidays and Bus trips for weekends fully paid for for a vote.

Do people still pay the POLICE, IMMIGRATION and the list goes on.

Well I have to pay the police if they stop me on the highway or if they see me do something wrong no court just a back hander ...... YES,

If I want a marriage VISA that it looks like Thai law should support (being married to a Thai), I will have to pay 8 times the correct price, and spend days at the immigration office having nonsense conversations producing nonsense photos etc ..... YES

[spacebass]

So long as it is acceptable for a "police officer" to stop any motorist withput any reason and demand 200 baht - there is no hope for a graft-free Thailand.

I do feel however that most people vastly underestimate the extent of corruption nepotism and graft in Thailand and the true extent of it's infiltration into eery aspect of life in the country.

If you offer him 100thb in the right way he will take it, a Thai would pay 40 even 20thb if they looked skint !!

[barrybankruad]

to those who hate taksin, i just wanna know after reading this news or news from other newspaper, do you still find the democrat does not corrupt? are you that innocent?

This is a little off topic as you Taksin supporters seem to need to turn anything into the pro Taksin Debate. Taksin was THE MOST CORRUPT POLITICIAN we have had as PM in the 24 years I have been in Thailand. This is to include Suchinda. I am encouraging my Thai family too vote. When someone came with money for a vote, I simply doubled it and told them to vote their minds.

FYI, We have no color and all the colors are the corruption.

Not true. Thaksin supporters DO NOT attempt to turn everything into a pro Thaksin debate. On this forum almost every subject discussed no matter how far removed from politics it is you will get posters making anti Thaksin remarks. After all the majority of members seem to be anti Thaksin. Thaksin was corrupt but he certainly was NOT the most corrupt we have had. I have been in Thailand as long as you have. I do not attempt to influence my family or Thai freinds as to how to vote. That is THEIR business.

[bumpkin]

when reading comments and contributions on the Forum, i am often reminded of the old saying. .... "Never let the facts spoil a good story"

[scorecard]

to those who hate taksin, i just wanna know after reading this news or news from other newspaper, do you still find the democrat does not corrupt? are you that innocent?

You seem to think that people who hate thaksin automatically think that the dems are perrfect. In fact can you quote a newspaper article or a thread here on TV where anybody has claimed that the Dems are not corrupt? I challenge you to do just that!

IMHO Ahisit is a good man, and he has a few capable honest and sincere people with him, but he also works in a minefield / snakepit of corrupt, incapable, insincere people, from the dems and from the other coalition parties.

But If I could vote I would vote for Ahbisit because IMHO he's the best option on the current horizon.

Edited May 2, 2011 by scorecard

[scorecard]

So long as it is acceptable for a "police officer" to stop any motorist withput any reason and demand 200 baht - there is no hope for a graft-free Thailand.

I do feel however that most people vastly underestimate the extent of corruption nepotism and graft in Thailand and the true extent of it's infiltration into eery aspect of life in the country.

If you offer him 100thb in the right way he will take it, a Thai would pay 40 even 20thb if they looked skint !!

There are also a few Thais who simply refuse to pay. I have one female colleague who just says 'no'! She just sits there, and continues to say 'no' every time the policeman repeats his demand for money. I've watched it happens I guess about 5 times. In every case the policeman has eventually saluted and then walked away.

[LingLek]

Better start with the Politions now as they have already started bribing the Thai voters with Holidays and Bus trips for weekends fully paid for for a vote.

Do people still pay the POLICE, IMMIGRATION and the list goes on.

Quote

It's still legal for a minister here to endorse a contract with a bidding firm that is owned by the minister's son or daughter, she said.

More or less in hundreds of towns thoughout Thailand the voted in person is the one that is reaping the BIG rewards, most have HIGH connections, so no one can touch them. As for blaming outsideforeign companies amongst others is a bit real. This smell starts at home, but no one wants to see it.

Lets face it corruption been always part of their culture and always will and so is discrimination

'their' culture? this is my culture you're talking about.

[selftaopath]

Many knowledgeable Thai Visa members have concluded this a long time ago. Pity no one powerful in Thailand is willing to listen/change; even if it's for the good of the country.

[khaowong1]

Foreign companies understand the "situation" in third world corrupt countries where labour is inexpensive and there are loads of legal loopholes where they can save money. They factor in the corruption. Once this becomes too expensive to maintain a healthy profit they move out to the next third world nation who is crying out for the opportunity to get it's ruling elite rich off the spoils via corruption.

The problem with becoming a first world developed nation is becoming competitive, as you no longer have the cheap labour and bureaucratic loopholes of a third world system. So one has to ask yourself. If the cost is the same for a company at home who wants to manufacture goods, why manufacture them in Thailand? Thailand's success is due to it's third world status, bureaucratic loopholes, cheap labour force and unfortunately corruption, which allows business practices which are not possible elsewhere.

Personally, I think the first stop in getting Thailand to progress is education. They need to get this right first.

I agree whole heartedly. Education is the key. If you can get education on the top burner, where the common people of Thailand has some idea of what's really happening in the rest of the world, things will change.

[Anon999]

to those who hate taksin, i just wanna know after reading this news or news from other newspaper, do you still find the democrat does not corrupt? are you that innocent?

first of all i dont care who runs LOS as long as the dollar improves. corrupt govt seems to improve the dollar. under Taksin the dollar went to 45b. now under the incorruptible Abhisit, it is under 30b.

now, that said, if the leader can't set a good example, then no one else will follow. this corruption boom started with taksin. there was always corruption, but it was only about 5 years ago that every single Thai got in on it.

i dont know any govt worker that doesnt take side money. teachers included.

No, no, no! This guy didn't just blame the declining US dollar on Thai politicians and Thai corruption, did he? Beggars belief.

vahack: Just for your interest I know more than one government worker who does not take bribes. One of them was threatened indirectly and the big boss was threatened too. Her job, was in logistics a position her big boss had persuaded her to take to help stamp out corruption. Once the lie of the land had been established some corrupt workers relocated to new departments and some contracts subsequently not awarded to the "preferred" bidder, the 'warnings' were conveyed. Consequently she had to be moved to another department for her own safety and that of her family and also her big boss. The local mafia may not be visible but they certainly call the shots where there are large public budgets involved, making their businesses ever more profitable.

Either you are mixing with the wrong people or you have the penchant of tarring everyone with the same brush.

[dananderson]

Thailsand's growth prospects in the reigon decrease as it realtes to growth in 2011. As it relates to this discussion I (regretfully) qoute from S&P on the prospects in the region. "Indonesia should grow by between 5.9% and 6.4%. Second best should be the Phillapines with expected growth of 5.1%. Thailands growth to ease to 4.0 to 4.5% from 7.8% last year." You can draw your own conclusions as to why.

[stanley2550]

They need a researcher to state the Bleed'in obvious in Thailand! 55555555 (LOL)

And what really makes me laugh in this article is the Country manager for Pfiefer spouting off about corruption! 555555 Pot calling the kettle black. Its well known that throughout the world drug companies are not only corrupt but immoral, deceptive and totally against free competition. What a joke and an insult to even have his comment listed!

[stanley2550]

Whos kidding who...Corruption started long before Taksin took the helm...what is the economic base of Thailand...Corrutption, Fraud, Extortion, Black Mail, a Corrupt Police Force, and a Corrupt and Dirty

Legal System. It is just a way of life. It is good advice that Corporations locate other places than Thailand; a Buddhist Country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Baloney...nothing could be further from the Truth.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

>> I agree whole heartedly. Education is the key. If you can get education on the top burner, where the common people of Thailand has some idea of what's really happening in the rest of the world, things will change.

But as I noted above that is exactly why the powers that be **don't want** the common people to receive a good education.

For the same reason it's not in their interest to reduce corruption.

For the same reason they don't want a government that more closely resembles a true democracy.

And of course that reason is that they currently have an impregnable stranglehold on the country's resources - why would they allow anything to threaten that?

The red vs yellow, Dems vs Thaksin, even noise about monarchy - all that is just window dressing, different groups competing for power and wealth based on connections and trading favors.

The fundamental issue is that Thailand needs to evolve into an open, competitive society where rewards are based on the company's and the individual's performance - meritocracy. But how can such a revolution take place when it would only benefit abstracts like "the whole country" and "future generations" - out of the real people of the present, it would only benefit those that have no power. And an uprising from the rural poor would require that they find the awareness and *will* to organize independently of any political "side" - because all the current "sides" are part of the problem rather than any possible solution.

I just can't see it happening, not because poor Thais couldn't do it, but from my experience most of they just don't see "change agent" as their role in society - the greatest benefit they can imagine from their right to vote is a few hundred baht per head for the moobaan and the hope that "their side" will deign to allow some scraps to fall off the table (subsidized cattle, postpone debt repayments, fix the roads). Thousands of years of feudal culture, mostly still active won't be overcome in a few generations.

I believe it is *possible*, but only through a long evolutionary process driven by the natural growth of the middle class.

A public education system of reasonable quality would be a possible *outcome* of such a revolution, it won't be the cause. And even then it won't necessarily happen - look at the US' public education system! Those that own 80% of America's wealth don't send their kids to public school, funding is based on local taxes, so in poor areas the schools are practically third world. And the same applies to so-called democracy - only superficial parts of the true power structures can be changed by any elected officials, the system guarantees control by the rich.

But the US has relatively little corruption in day-to-day business operations, and rewards are much more closely aligned with performance, and that's because the power elite figured out that having a smaller slice of a bigger pie is in their interest as well as as the public's. Here in Thailand my perception is that the "have"s don't care if the country as a whole remains relatively poor, as long as they have the top slices of that little pie. Allowing the whole pie to rapidly grow threatens their position, so they keep the brakes (corruption and protectionism) on.

/rant over

[trisailer]

Your wrong. The fact is that the economic base of Thailand is manufacturing and production and the proof is in the economic numbers 6% growth is higher than almost every other country. The fact that the Thais do it their way is testimony to it's success.

Western business is just upset that to do business in Thailand you have to actually have business sense and not just a degree from an ivy leage uni.

If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

[baboon]

BigJohnnyBKK argues a very good case in my opinion.

[trisailer]

I disagree that education is the key. It dosen't take a fulbright to know that the progress and benefits of economic development is out of balance.

The west has a pretty good education system, but it dosen't seem to be helping them elect competent leaders. Just look at the amout of support for the likes of teabaggers and it is clear.

I think that western education is the problem and not the solution.

[selftaopath]

>> I agree whole heartedly. Education is the key. If you can get education on the top burner, where the common people of Thailand has some idea of what's really happening in the rest of the world, things will change.

But as I noted above that is exactly why the powers that be **don't want** the common people to receive a good education.

For the same reason it's not in their interest to reduce corruption.

For the same reason they don't want a government that more closely resembles a true democracy.

And of course that reason is that they currently have an impregnable stranglehold on the country's resources - why would they allow anything to threaten that?

The red vs yellow, Dems vs Thaksin, even noise about monarchy - all that is just window dressing, different groups competing for power and wealth based on connections and trading favors.

The fundamental issue is that Thailand needs to evolve into an open, competitive society where rewards are based on the company's and the individual's performance - meritocracy. But how can such a revolution take place when it would only benefit abstracts like "the whole country" and "future generations" - out of the real people of the present, it would only benefit those that have no power. And an uprising from the rural poor would require that they find the awareness and *will* to organize independently of any political "side" - because all the current "sides" are part of the problem rather than any possible solution.

I just can't see it happening, not because poor Thais couldn't do it, but from my experience most of they just don't see "change agent" as their role in society - the greatest benefit they can imagine from their right to vote is a few hundred baht per head for the moobaan and the hope that "their side" will deign to allow some scraps to fall off the table (subsidized cattle, postpone debt repayments, fix the roads). Thousands of years of feudal culture, mostly still active won't be overcome in a few generations.

I believe it is *possible*, but only through a long evolutionary process driven by the natural growth of the middle class.

A public education system of reasonable quality would be a possible *outcome* of such a revolution, it won't be the cause. And even then it won't necessarily happen - look at the US' public education system! Those that own 80% of America's wealth don't send their kids to public school, funding is based on local taxes, so in poor areas the schools are practically third world. And the same applies to so-called democracy - only superficial parts of the true power structures can be changed by any elected officials, the system guarantees control by the rich.

But the US has relatively little corruption in day-to-day business operations, and rewards are much more closely aligned with performance, and that's because the power elite figured out that having a smaller slice of a bigger pie is in their interest as well as as the public's. Here in Thailand my perception is that the "have"s don't care if the country as a whole remains relatively poor, as long as they have the top slices of that little pie. Allowing the whole pie to rapidly grow threatens their position, so they keep the brakes (corruption and protectionism) on.

/rant over

Thank you for your "rant." Oh how I agree.

This AM I momentarily drew a comparison to African dictators and Thai rich/powerful. I concluded on major difference between the despicable entities: The dictator e.g.Gadaffi in Libia has all the pie, but in Thailand it's cut up and consumed by several families.

[pepi2005]

I think Thailand has lots of potential, but because there are so many problems in the Thai mindset - to see things and to act according to what they see - that it will be impossible for this country to become a stable society and safe economic environment for foreign investors.

The corruption on every level, the looking away, the stubbornness, the nationalism, the xenophobia, the low education of the masses, the 'saving face' problem, the 'Thai rak Thai' attitude, the wide acceptance of overcharging foreigners, the bad state of the media, the censorship, the disadvantages of foreigners for investments and entrepreneurship, the racism, the preference of scamming over working, the immigration problems (forcing many to do lots of so-called 'visa runs' even when they are doing business here),.. the list is endless!

I have invested money in Thailand, but wouldn't do so anymore, as I realized that Thailand can't take off economically and society-wise in the same pace as most other SEA countries can do it. One actually has to worry to lose all money here because of some mafia figures with 'connections' that need a way to make some quick cash, some scam, some coup or nationalistic fineprint in the laws.

[dananderson]

Your wrong. The fact is that the economic base of Thailand is manufacturing and production and the proof is in the economic numbers 6% growth is higher than almost every other country. The fact that the Thais do it their way is testimony to it's success.

Western business is just upset that to do business in Thailand you have to actually have business sense and not just a degree from an ivy leage uni.

If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

Please provide a source for your 6% growth number. I sourced mine in a previous post here that shows Thailand's predicted economic growth for 2011 dropping significantly. To refresh your memory, LOS was 7.8% last year-easing down words to a projected 4.0 to 4.5% for 2011. Bloomberg reported last night that Thailand's inflation is rising to 15% contributing to the economic woes here. Thailand's current and projected growth in fact has them trailing many economy's in the reigon.

[Markaew]

I disagree that education is the key. It dosen't take a fulbright to know that the progress and benefits of economic development is out of balance.

The west has a pretty good education system, but it dosen't seem to be helping them elect competent leaders. Just look at the amout of support for the likes of teabaggers and it is clear.

I think that western education is the problem and not the solution.

You are missing the point on education. It's not the level you achieve, it's the quality of the level that you actually obtain. Education in Thailand is fake. Thai students learn some of the basics but it's Thai reality not world reality. An M6 grad is hopelessly misinformed.

P.S. I know you obtained your education in Thailand by your spelling.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Markaew

[geriatrickid]

They need a researcher to state the Bleed'in obvious in Thailand! 55555555 (LOL)

And what really makes me laugh in this article is the Country manager for Pfiefer spouting off about corruption! 555555 Pot calling the kettle black. Its well known that throughout the world drug companies are not only corrupt but immoral, deceptive and totally against free competition. What a joke and an insult to even have his comment listed!

Your claim is unfounded Although there are some countries where drug manufacturers have been shaken down for bribes, the laws are rather explicit in some of the countries that enforce anti bribery regulations. Both the USa andCanada have imposed serious sanctions on european manufacturers that engaged in illegal activities. Drug companies are staffed by humans that engage in human behaviours. It is not the drug company, but the individual person at the large multinationals that breaks these laws. The multinationals have too much on the line and at stake to screw around. When there are instances of impropriety, those actions are a reflection of the nationals' society and not the industry. The most glaring examples of this are Thai, German, Indian, Swiss and Chinese drug manufacturers. Drug companies in the UK, Australia, Canada, USA, France have a zero tolerance for illegal or unethical practices.

BTW, boycott pharmaceutical products to show your solidarity, ok.