Thailand Beyond the Crisis

by Warr,Peter

• ISBN13: 9780415244473
• ISBN10: 0415244471
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-11-04
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Thailand Beyond the Crisisincludes recent research to give an accurate and up to date picture of the status of Thailand's economic recovery. The Asian economic crisis began in Thailand and ended a decade of sustained economic boom. This book identifies the role of policy errors involving both the Thai government and the IMF that lead to the crash of the fastest growing economy in the world. Warr addresses the consequences of the crisis, including sharply increased poverty incidence and a backlog of non-performing loans, which clogged the banking system, delaying recovery. This book also explores the political consequences of these events, including the emergence of the populist government of tycoon turned politician Thaksin Shinawatra. Featuring distinguished contributors, including many from Thailand, this survey concludes that Thailand's long-term prospects depend on crucial economic reforms. Key contents includes: The Social Consequences of the crisis, and alternatives Publicsector reform Implications of a floating exchange rate Education Urbanization and the environment

Table of Contents

List of contributors	xi
Preface	xiii
Note on referencing of Thai names	xv
Map of Thailand	xvi
PART I Background to the crisis and the recovery process	1	(104)
Boom, bust and beyond	3	(63)
Peter Warr
Anatomy of the crisis	66	(39)
Ammar Siamwalla
PART II The social and political context of the recovery process	105	(80)
Pluto-populism: Thaksin and popular politics	107	(31)
Chris Baker
Socio-economic consequences of the crisis	138	(23)
Isra Sarntisart
Developing social alternatives: walking backwards into a khlong	161	(24)
Pasuk Phongpaichit
PART III The new environment for economic policy making	185	(64)
Public sector reform: a post-crisis opportunity	187	(21)
Stefan G. Koeberle
Dealing with debt: NPLs and debt restructuring	208	(24)
Pakorn Vichyanond
The implications of a flexible exchange rate	232	(17)
Bhanupong Nidhiprabha
PART IV The long term: human capital, urbanization and the environment	249	(92)
Education: the key to long-term recovery?	251	(34)
Sirilaksana Khoman
Urbanization: new drivers, new outcomes	285	(30)
Douglas Webster
Natural resources and the environment	315	(26)
Mingsarn Kaosa-Ard
Index	341