For some time, there has been discussion in all the chat rooms about the “good old days” and how much better they were then than now. Many reasons have been given but finding out each member's reasons means wading through quite a number of posts. So I thought it might be interesting to post a simple poll for those who remember the bars 20 years ago to give their reasons more concisely. I have deliberately allowed the poll to be viewed by non-members. I'm not sure if they are able to vote. If so we might obtain a better perspective.
I have deliberately left out any mention of prices. It is generally agreed that drink prices now are outrageous. Official annual Thai inflation rates since the year 1997 have varied between 8.10% in 1998 and -0.90% in 2015. Compound inflation appears to have been somewhere in the region of 70% - 80% during these 20 years. The value of the Baht has also dropped from US$1 = 25 in the years up to 1997 to Bt. 35 now.
As a very rough guide, therefore, basic costs should have gone up by at least 100% since 1997. But this excludes items like tea money payments and the likelihood of higher rents. It also omits the rise in incomes and living standards during the period throughout the country. So I have left out any mention of prices.
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