Thailand slips in global race for competitiveness

[wowpow]

"Thailand is not falling sharply. The point is that other countries are doing better. Stephane Garelli Professor, IMD

In the global race for prosperity, Thailand's competitiveness is increasing. But the bad news is other nations are moving faster.

This is the message from Stephane Garelli, a professor at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), whose World Competitiveness Centre has been a pioneer in the study of competitiveness since 1989. Thailand's ranking in world competitiveness has slipped five places this year, from 27th to 32nd, out of 61 countries in the survey.

In 2002, Thailand ranked 31st, before improving to 30th in 2003, 29th in 2004 and 27th last year. But this year, its ranking dropped five places, because performance by other countries picked up steam.

"Thailand's competitiveness is not falling sharply. The point is that other countries are doing better," said Garelli.

Thailand, South Korea (from 29th last year to 38th this year), New Zealand (from 16th to 22nd), France (from 30th to 35th), Chile (from 19th to 24th) and Italy (from 53rd to 56th) are among the worst performers. The top performers include China (from 31st to 19th), India (from 39th to 29th), Malaysia (from 28th to 23rd), Austria (17th to 13th), Japan (21st to 17th) and Mexico (56th to 53rd). ....."

Full article
www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/16/business/business_30004125.php (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/16/business/business_30004125.php)

[cottmann]

"Thailand is not falling sharply. The point is that other countries are doing better. Stephane Garelli Professor, IMD

In the global race for prosperity, Thailand's competitiveness is increasing. But the bad news is other nations are moving faster.

This is the message from Stephane Garelli, a professor at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), whose World Competitiveness Centre has been a pioneer in the study of competitiveness since 1989. Thailand's ranking in world competitiveness has slipped five places this year, from 27th to 32nd, out of 61 countries in the survey.

In 2002, Thailand ranked 31st, before improving to 30th in 2003, 29th in 2004 and 27th last year. But this year, its ranking dropped five places, because performance by other countries picked up steam.

"Thailand's competitiveness is not falling sharply. The point is that other countries are doing better," said Garelli.

Thailand, South Korea (from 29th last year to 38th this year), New Zealand (from 16th to 22nd), France (from 30th to 35th), Chile (from 19th to 24th) and Italy (from 53rd to 56th) are among the worst performers. The top performers include China (from 31st to 19th), India (from 39th to 29th), Malaysia (from 28th to 23rd), Austria (17th to 13th), Japan (21st to 17th) and Mexico (56th to 53rd). ....."

Full article
www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/16/business/business_30004125.php (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/16/business/business_30004125.php)

The other international index of global competitiveness - that from the World Economic Forum - for 2005 shows different ranking. It puts Thailand at 36 (down 2 places) out of 115 countries, rather than 31st out of 61. Unlike the IMD study, however, Finland, not the USA, is ranked at No. 1. in the WEF report, followed by the USA, Sweden, Denmark and Taiwan. Singapore is only 6th (not 2nd, as in the IMD study) and Hong Kong is 28th (not 2nd, as in the IMD study).

I guess you pays your money... as to which report is more reliable - and whether they mean much anyway.

Another chance for a chip on the shoulder
New Zealand (from 16th to 22nd)

.... all these statistics are relative, just because they have fell a few points doesn't mean they are slipping, in this case, it seems that other countries are "overperforming" if that is the right terminology.

Don't we as expats and tourists who source our money from the west WANT Thailand to remain uncompetitive?

Don't we as expats and tourists who source our money from the west WANT Thailand to remain uncompetitive?Even that is too cynical for me! However I remain sceptical of Thailand's ability to advance in competitiveness - there are far too many vested interests at the moment. We will probably therefore end up with the same result

Don't we as expats and tourists who source our money from the west WANT Thailand to remain uncompetitive?Even that is too cynical for me! However I remain sceptical of Thailand's ability to advance in competitiveness - there are far too many vested interests at the moment. We will probably therefore end up with the same result
Not for me, obviously. Why don't we all admit it? If Thailand was as expensive as the Netherlands, the vast majority of us wouldn't visit as expats, tourists, or retirees. If Thailand were to massively advance economically, their currency would be as strong as Euros, and most of us would be priced out.
What is cynical about the truth?

.... all these statistics are relative, just because they have fell a few points doesn't mean they are slipping, in this case, it seems that other countries are "overperforming" if that is the right terminology.

which might be restated as "although the poor are not getting poorer relative to their recent past, other more inward investment liberal economies are growing faster benefitting their populace more".

OTOH some of us believe that their will be limits to China's spectacular growth and that Bangalore is a bubble.

Not for me, obviously. Why don't we all admit it? If Thailand was as expensive as the Netherlands, the vast majority of us wouldn't visit as expats, tourists, or retirees. If Thailand were to massively advance economically, their currency would be as strong as Euros, and most of us would be priced out.
What is cynical about the truth?

Agree... :compress:

There's clearly the usual misunderstanding of cynicism among Forum members, so perhaps a look at a dictionary might be useful for them. Truth does not equal cynicism (and vice versa)

Not for me, obviously. Why don't we all admit it? If Thailand was as expensive as the Netherlands, the vast majority of us wouldn't visit as expats, tourists, or retirees. If Thailand were to massively advance economically, their currency would be as strong as Euros, and most of us would be priced out.
What is cynical about the truth?

Agree... :compress:
Yes,
A perfect example of what we DON'T want to happen to Thailand is SPAIN.
Became Eurozed, much richer, and is no longer a "budget" retirement fun in the sun destination for Europeans.
Thailand government never treats us as equal anyway, we are only allowed to be here because we spend money.
Enjoy Thailand, but face reality.

OK, I will go even further. Clearly, the Thai government doesn't really care about farang rights (you can be kicked out anytime and blacklisted), why would a farang with their head screwed on straight really CARE to see Thailand rapidly advance? You aren't Thai and you never will be (except for a few very rare exceptions of course).

the Thai government doesn't really care about farang rights

That's just saying that they are pragmatic and don't care about something that doesn't exist.