Thailand

Memo to the minister of economic development of Thailand:

In recent years, Thailand has come far in rehabilitating its public image. Thailand was one of the East Asian nations that experienced the quickest recovery from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis, unlike Japan, which has lingered in the economic doldrums since. Unlike the rapidly aging employable population of Japan, Thailand's young and invigorated population is booming. Our nation's economy was listed as one of East Asia's best performers in 2002 and 2003. "Increased consumption and investment spending and strong export growth pushed GDP growth up to 6.3% in 2003 despite a sluggish global economy." (Government Guide, 2004)

No longer a mere tourist hub in the eyes of the West, for foreigners desirous of engaging in perverse fantasies, Thailand's complex Buddhist culture and the profundity of its social infrastructure has come to the forefront for both professional Western scholars of the...
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