Why is Thailand such a success compared to the Philippines?

[RichardThailand]

I've lived in both countries.

• Thailand - High employment, okay infrastructure, cheaper utilities, great health service, big tourist industry and a lot more manufacturing.
• Philippines - Very high unemployment, terrible infrastructure, expensive utilities, terrible health service, small tourist industry and very little manufacturing

So why did one succeed and the other totally fail.

Hope to hear some ideas from people rather than comments from posters telling me I made mistakes with my evaluation of both countries.

Thanks

[arthurwait]

Ask again in 5 years.

[RichardThailand]

Ask again in 5 years.

Well I'm more interested in what allowed Thailand and Philippines to get to where they now are over the last 20-30 years. I realize there are corruption and political issues and perhaps some issues with education in both countries but they seem much the same to me. If I recall recently both countries scored exactly the same on an international corruption index.

[HeijoshinCool]

Vietnam war.

[AYJAYDEE]

simple! the americans and the vatican!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_reform_in_the_Philippines

[arthurwait]

Economy[edit]

To help finance a number of economic development projects, the Marcos government borrowed large amounts of money from international lenders.[62][63] The Philippines' external debt rose from $360 million (US) in 1962 to $28.3 billion in 1986, making the Philippines one of the most indebted countries in Asia.[62] A sizable amount of this money went to Marcos family and friends in the form of behest loans. These loans were assumed by the government and are still being serviced by taxpayers, to this day. These loans were ostensibly funded to construct the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant but after Marcos' ouster, the plant was not utilized. Today, more than half of the country's revenues go toward the payment of interest on these loans, with the principal amounts remaining largely untouched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos

[Jingthing]

Geography is a big part of it.

Thailand is the perfect base for Asean travel.

Flipland is a bunch of islands well into the sea!

[NeverSure]

-snip-

Flipland is a bunch of islands well into the sea!

So is Japan.

[Jingthing]

-snip-

Flipland is a bunch of islands well into the sea!

So is Japan.

Fair enough. But Japan is East Asia not Southeast Asia.

[HeijoshinCool]

There likely would not be a Villa Market, if not for the Vietnam war.

K. Pong, who started the supermarket at the close of that war, learned all he learned about foreigners' food preferences, as well as how to run his business, from working on an American base in Thailand, in its BX, during the war.

[pigeonjake]

ive only been to phils once, cagian de or, and to tell the truth i didnt feel safe at all,

never felt like that in thailand,

but thats only my thoughts

[ChrisB87]

Population control was a big thing.

Check this out

http://www.ted.com/talks/mechai_viravaidya_how_mr_condom_made_thailand_a_better_place?language=en

[Roadman]

Economy[edit]

To help finance a number of economic development projects, the Marcos government borrowed large amounts of money from international lenders.[62][63] The Philippines' external debt rose from $360 million (US) in 1962 to $28.3 billion in 1986, making the Philippines one of the most indebted countries in Asia.[62] A sizable amount of this money went to Marcos family and friends in the form of behest loans. These loans were assumed by the government and are still being serviced by taxpayers, to this day. These loans were ostensibly funded to construct the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant but after Marcos' ouster, the plant was not utilized. Today, more than half of the country's revenues go toward the payment of interest on these loans, with the principal amounts remaining largely untouched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos

Re evaluate to also fund the Marcos standard of living...how many pairs of shoes can a woman really own? Thailand would have been trashed into debt the same way if the Shinawatra's had been allowed to over run the country to the same extent as the Marcos dynasty. And overall Thailand also has a stronger economic and export base than the Philippines especially in quality food stuffs...think beyond just rice to wandering into the vast array of Asian markets all over the world and there is endless produce from Thailand.

And also add the other obvious like American involvement, location etc.

It should be able to do a lot better too if the rail (freight to ports) infrastructure through the country is upgraded from the north and northeast neighboring counties to its coastal shipping facilities.

Edited December 25, 2014 by Roadman

[jspill]

- Super-rich in undiminished control (apparently one family controls electricity supply hence high utility prices, I hear)

- Unsustainable demographics. 'the Catholic Church, to which the great majority of Filipinos belong, continues to prohibit contraception.'

- Declining per capita income

- 'over 50% of total GDP is controlled by the top 15 families. In sharp contrast, only 2.8% of listed corporate assets are owned by the 15 top families in Japan.'

- 'oppressive medieval structures that make their lives on Earth the equivalent of purgatory'

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/FI30Ae04.html

Edited December 25, 2014 by jspill

[NeverSure]

I'll be interested to see where Thailand is in ten or fifteen years. As HeijoshinCool said, they got a big bump from the Vietnam war. The US poured money and technology into the country as Thailand allowed the US to use air bases. Later it brought in a lot of manufacturing. Thailand and the US have been friends and allies since just after WWII right up until about NOW.

The US isn't going to put up with this China alliance and has already pulled a lot of income away from Thailand since the coup. I don't expect Japan to put up with the China alliance either and the US and Japan are close.

If the US and Japan pull significant manufacturing out of Thailand and move it to Burma, Thailand will be hurting. The US and Japan already bought huge tracts of land in Yangon, and Japan promised to build a deep water port there. This was over Yingluck's behavior. Imagine what they think of the current government's moves.

Thailand has had it's Marcos. Thaksin and Yingluck robbed the country blind and left it deeply in debt and not just over the rice scheme. They at least temporarily destroyed the rice export business.

Thailand is slipping. It's stupidity, greed and corruption is catching up with its economy from rice to tourism. Next if it loses the US and Japan as Cambodia, Vietnam and Burma take business, it could slip a long way down. I'm not predicting anything, I just see the possibility.

[MAJIC]

MONEY!

[ATF]

It's all to do with the mentality of the people and IMHO nothing to do with the US.

Flippers don't have the work ethic of Thais. Considering most Flippers speak English you would think this was an advantage but it isn't.

Burma is over 50 years behind Thailand and Bangkok is a first world city. Manila isn't.

Even China has problems competing with Thailand in certain industries.

However Thailand has reached a plateau at the moment but once the politics are sorted out I see no reason for it not to move forward.

[slipperylobster]

I would agree, Marcos had plundered the vaults....and the horrible leadership of his successors sure did not improve the lot of the poor. My history with the Philippines goes back to the late seventies...and I have a daughter who is almost forty years old. I lived there 18 years straight. There is no comparison to Thailand, whatsoever. The Thai's have a totally different culture and pride themselves in it, whereas people in the Philippines were subjected to the European (Spanish) colonization that they never really outgrew. It seems that the Church has more political influence, at the grass roots level, and they preach things such as "Poverty breeds spiritual strength, be fruitful and multiply, obey the Church (Government) or suffer damnation.

On the positive side, they speak English, and are very generous and musical people. It is nice to be able to converse with them, and actually understand them. My mom had a Spanish father, and her family were poor, Catholics. Even her last name "Morales" is all over the Philippines. It was very familiar to me... Unlike Thailand. Although China has big investments in both Thailand and the Philippines, they are not as readily accepted there. National disasters are rampant in the Philippines. It is very sad to see the affect that Typhoons, floods, earthquakes and volcano's have on the poor communities.

In short, I would say that the humility of the Filipino/Filipina people are what holds them back. Education is not as widespread there (as is in Thailand). Not every single child gets to go to school....even today. They are a westernized culture in an Asian Setting. Europeans are more interested in the Exotic food and culture available in Thailand.

In spite of what people may think, there are islands where rich Westerners go to. Boracay is an example. Also Palawan and Cebu. Plenty of 5 star accommodations. All the islands are serviced by airlines....but sometimes you need to link up with ferries (similar to traveling here to Samui, Koh Phi Phi or Koh Chang. You will be treated well, and enjoy, just the same. You may be thankful to return to Thailand, the food is much better here.

Edited December 25, 2014 by slipperylobster

[KittenKong]

I think that one of the main reasons is that the RP is situated in an earthquake zone and also directly in the path of many hurricanes. These cost a lot to the economy every year.

Also, after the "people power" revolution and Marcos's departure (I was living in Manila at the time, just a few minutes from the Presidential palace) successive governments seemed to go out of their way to kill off tourism, whilst Thailand was promoting it heavily. Tourism of all types is a great money earner when handled properly.

If the food and the tax situation were as good in the RP as they are here I would surely be living there now rather than here.

[KittenKong]

In spite of what people may think, there are islands where rich Westerners go to. Boracay is an example.

I remember Boracay from when it was the archetypal beach paradise for backpackers, with only buildings without foundations and no electricity, and the accommodation was beach huts for few tens of pesos.

It has changed somewhat since then.

[h90]

Geography is a big part of it.

Thailand is the perfect base for Asean travel.

Flipland is a bunch of islands well into the sea!

Bali is an island and does well

[EmptyHead]

Geography is a big part of it.

Thailand is the perfect base for Asean travel.

Flipland is a bunch of islands well into the sea!

Bali is an island and does well

Does well in what?

The Balinese (and Indonesians in general) have a much lower standard of living than Thais, even Isaan Thais.

[Berkshire]

Ask again in 5 years.

Huh? In 5 years, there will be an even bigger gap. I can cite a number of reasons including overpopulation, chronic corruption, crime, etc. But if there was one thing that is preventing the Filipinos from prospering...I'd say it is the Catholic church. Sorry to say, but it seems that in every country in the world (outside of Italy) with a dominant Catholic religion, that country is mired in poverty and corruption. Even Italy has problems.

[h90]

Geography is a big part of it.

Thailand is the perfect base for Asean travel.

Flipland is a bunch of islands well into the sea!

Bali is an island and does well

Does well in what?

The Balinese (and Indonesians in general) have a much lower standard of living than Thais, even Isaan Thais.

Bali is tourist island does a lot better than any other Non Thai islands in SEA.

That Bali is overpopulated because there religion demands a lot children is another problem not related to the popularity (actually it makes it less popular).

[daveAustin]

Thailand is lucky.

[bendejo]

To take the comparison a little further, why is Malaysia better off than Thailand?

One part of the answer would be oil.

[MJKT2014]

Having worked in both countries, I find that Filipinos tend to not get along together, which creates a lot of internal conflict and obstructs progress. Besides which the Philippines geographically being a more dispersed region of islands, leads to greater logistical challenges.

[CPH]

Thailand had the luck not to be a colony. Every man has a little piece of land. In the Philippines the land was given to a few extremely large landowners during the 350 year Spanish occupation. Then the PH had Marcos for 22 years who took 54 biilion dollars out of the country. All that left the PH with a lot of unhappy poor people. Some of these people joined the many different rebel groups in the country and war like situations have persisted since. This in turn left to very little foreign investment in the PH compared to other Asian countries and is the major reason for the difference between Thailand and the PH. With the last government things have improved somewhat so maybe the future will bring a little prosperity to the PH. However that will be sucked up very fast by the increase in population which increases around 2 million per year.

[ATF]

To take the comparison a little further, why is Malaysia better off than Thailand?

One part of the answer would be oil.

Massive foreign investment and aid from the Middle East.

[vtjforyou]

Because of MIB tourists harassment ?