The Effects of Food on Thai Cultures: Part 5
by This is the fifth part of a multi part article that looks in depth at the effects food has played in the cultures found in the lands currently known as Thailand. In this part how the economy of Thailand is affected by food is discussed.
Food and the Economy
The overall economy of Thailand not only relies on food products directly but indirectly. Over the past few years Thais has seen a steady increase in consumer expenditures as well as disposable income. Disposable income increased almost 50% in the past 4 years. In addition, the amount of money Thais take home has also increased almost 50%. One thing to notice is the inflation rate has fluctuated drastically over the past 3 or 4 years but is relatively low.
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This ultimately means that Thais have seen an increase in money they make and spend. How has food in Thailand played into this increase of wealth? Can food be responsible for more people buying iPods, name brand clothing, movies, music, computers, Internet connections, cars, homes and education? Can food in Thailand be a contributing cause of changing Thais’ cultures from traditional to more modern? Can food in Thailand be factor in helping maintain traditional cultures in Thailand? And lastly, can food in Thailand be responsible for exporting Thais’ cultures all over the world? Data shows that, indeed, food in Thailand is a major force behind both changing Thais’ cultures, as well as, helping maintain traditional Thai cultures and even help spread both modern and traditional Thai cultures all over the world.
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Demographic and economic indicators
|
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
|
Population aged 65+: January 1st (’000) |
4,589.11 |
4,738.77 |
4,895.30 |
5,012.72 |
5,187.33 |
|
Population density (people per sq km) |
123.32 |
124.18 |
125.04 |
125.89 |
126.70 |
|
GDP measured at purchasing power parity (million international $) |
445,369.01 |
483,204.50 |
519,797.46 |
556,406.08 |
579,271.42 |
|
Real GDP growth (% growth) |
4.61 |
5.23 |
4.93 |
2.58 |
-2.97 |
|
Inflation (% growth) |
4.54 |
4.64 |
2.24 |
5.47 |
0.52 |
|
Consumer expenditure (US$ million) |
101,985.97 |
117,314.26 |
133,367.73 |
151,748.99 |
145,889.50 |
|
Annual gross income (US$ million) |
105,747.39 |
122,010.19 |
139,126.86 |
158,215.58 |
152,958.05 |
|
Annual disposable income (US$ million) |
102,392.11 |
118,065.17 |
134,628.39 |
153,054.10 |
147,882.45 |
(Eruo Monitor, 2003)
As the curent Thai population increases in numbers so does the amount of people over 65. This means that there are more people more likely to conform to traditoinal culturalistic values as well as teach them. The fact that there is more people over 65 is an effect of better education, medicine and overall higher standard of living. In the past 4 years the amount of money, jobs, salaries and production has increased 50%. It took 5 years to get half as far as it did for hundreds of years before that. The rate at which the economy is growing has never been experienced before at this level in the history of the Thai people currently living on the lands know known as Thailand. The fact that there are more people living past the age of 65 is greatly infludenced by a bolstered economy.
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