We Ask An Economist: Is Thailand a Poor Country? [Season 4, Episode 19]

We Ask An Economist: Is Thailand a Poor Country? [Season 4, Episode 19]

People are often quick to call Thailand 'developing' or even 'third world' - but what do those terms even mean? We decided to find out.

Ed interviews Dan Honig, a professor of international development at Johns Hopkins University. After explaining Dan's unique educational background and world travels, the guys dig into some basic questions about the Thai economy. Right off the bat, Dan notes that when compared to the entire world, it is not accurate to consider Thailand poor. Instead, it would probably be categorized as 'upper middle income'.

But that describes Thailand as a whole - what about other indices like inequality, development, or poverty? Dan discusses different ways of measuring these things and notes that Thailand has a very low poverty rate, with most Thais generally having access to health care and education. But the extreme gap between the one percent at the top in Thailand and everybody else impacts the political situation, and in Dan's mind definitely is a problem.

Last, the guys riff on the oddness of having salaries that put them in the top one or two percent in the world, but at the same time feeling 'disadvantaged' in some way. In the end, it's only traveling and seeing the way most people live that lead to really appreciating what you have. Something listeners of the Bangkok Podcast should know already. :)

As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Episoder(562)

Bangkok Podcast 42: Matchmaking

Bangkok Podcast 42: Matchmaking

On this episode, we talk with Khun Bee, owner of Bangkok Matching, Bangkok's #1 premium marriage matchmaking service. It's a very different ball of wax from a simple dating site, and in a very interes...

28 Feb 201153min

Bangkok Podcast 41: Online Dating

Bangkok Podcast 41: Online Dating

Continuing with our month of loooooove, this episode of Bangkok Podcast deals with the risks and rewards of online dating. Only ten years ago, meeting someone online was considered a bit of a nerdy wa...

20 Feb 201151min

Bangkok Podcast 40: Kaewmala

Bangkok Podcast 40: Kaewmala

Argh! Yet another wacky cable problem has made Greg and Tony's voices sound weird and echoey, but never fear! Our esteemed guest's voice came through loud and clear. On this episode - the second of fo...

13 Feb 201152min

Bangkok Podcast 39: Thai Wedding Ceremony

Bangkok Podcast 39: Thai Wedding Ceremony

To start off our month of luuuve, Bangkok Podcast will be talking about the who, why, how and how much of Thai weddings. Despite some strange microphone issues in this episode, we are joined by Jason ...

7 Feb 201155min

Bangkok Podcast 38: Canadian Ambassador Ron Hoffmann

Bangkok Podcast 38: Canadian Ambassador Ron Hoffmann

It's a strata of expat life that few of us have to deal with on anything more than an administrative level, but the particulars of how two countries interract and overlap is a complicated Venn diagram...

29 Jan 20111h 2min

Adam Bradshaw: Thai Language Series 9 on the Bangkok Podcast (1.37)

Adam Bradshaw: Thai Language Series 9 on the Bangkok Podcast (1.37)

(Direct download .mp3) We are lucky to be joined by another farang Thai speaker for our Thai language series, Adam Bradshaw. Adam has a large online following who enjoy watching his energetic and easy...

23 Jan 201148min

Bangkok Podcast 36: Finding a job in Bangkok

Bangkok Podcast 36: Finding a job in Bangkok

On this episode, Tony and Greg discuss the ins and outs of finding a job in Thailand. A lot of people - after a vacation full of fun and frivolity - think that moving to Thailand will be a sure way to...

16 Jan 201140min

Bangkok Podcast 35: Woody Milintachinda Pt 2

Bangkok Podcast 35: Woody Milintachinda Pt 2

On the second part of our interview with talk show host and all around cool dude Woody Malintachinda, we learn a bit more about Woody's job and some of the crazy stories that come from being on TV. Fr...

9 Jan 201145min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
min-barneoppdragelse
grenselos
wolfgang-wee-uncut
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
fladseth
alt-fortalt
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem