Comments on: Black Thai Affair http://worldwide.aceharmon.com/ace-harmon/2008/402 Because a true Ace is needed everywhere... Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:20:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/ hourly 1 By: The Old Bear http://worldwide.aceharmon.com/ace-harmon/2008/402/comment-page-1#comment-1588 The Old Bear Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:58:43 +0000 http://worldwide.aceharmon.com/?p=402#comment-1588 There has been a lot of sociology research produced in a effort to answer why some countries develop economically more rapidly than others. Among the countries of Southeast Asia, Thailand has always been relatively wealthy, producing more than enough food to feed its population, evolving a powerful tradition of artisanship, and spawning its share of entrepreneurs. That is not to say that there is not wrenching poverty, but that the country has developed and is a player on the world economic stage. In 2000, Thailand exported a whopping 67% of its GDP. (By contrast, the United States exports about 12% of its GDP.) You can think of this as a ratio of how much of what you produce you sell compared with how much you consume yourself. Not all countries open themselves up to this kind of commerce. There are a lot of theories about what cultural factors come into play, but no one really knows for sure. Trade and economic activity have always brought exposure to foreign culture and, as a result, social change. Some times this is good (like fewer children dying as infants) and sometimes bad (like developing a "sex tourism" industry.) I strongly recommend a very readable book written in 1996 by Rutgers' professor Benjamin Barber "Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World." If you come across a copy in one of the bookshops, you may enjoy it as some good airplane reading for the world traveler. There has been a lot of sociology research produced in a effort to answer why some countries develop economically more rapidly than others. Among the countries of Southeast Asia, Thailand has always been relatively wealthy, producing more than enough food to feed its population, evolving a powerful tradition of artisanship, and spawning its share of entrepreneurs. That is not to say that there is not wrenching poverty, but that the country has developed and is a player on the world economic stage. In 2000, Thailand exported a whopping 67% of its GDP. (By contrast, the United States exports about 12% of its GDP.) You can think of this as a ratio of how much of what you produce you sell compared with how much you consume yourself.

Not all countries open themselves up to this kind of commerce. There are a lot of theories about what cultural factors come into play, but no one really knows for sure.

Trade and economic activity have always brought exposure to foreign culture and, as a result, social change. Some times this is good (like fewer children dying as infants) and sometimes bad (like developing a “sex tourism” industry.)

I strongly recommend a very readable book written in 1996 by Rutgers’ professor Benjamin Barber “Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World.” If you come across a copy in one of the bookshops, you may enjoy it as some good airplane reading for the world traveler.

]]> By: Denise M. http://worldwide.aceharmon.com/ace-harmon/2008/402/comment-page-1#comment-1587 Denise M. Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:55:53 +0000 http://worldwide.aceharmon.com/?p=402#comment-1587 I can totally imagine you pining to take pics of the possible rebellion beginnings. and I heart commonality, too. It gives traveling a different feel, which I like. I can totally imagine you pining to take pics of the possible rebellion beginnings.

and I heart commonality, too. It gives traveling a different feel, which I like.

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