Thailand: Third World, Developing or Developed

[Piece Train]

A lot of us hear the words "Third World" when "scholars" or "think-tanks" back home refer to Thailand and most of the countries around it in general.

Many NGOs with good intentions call Thailand "developing."

So we're from the First World, right? Well, I've been thinking about Thailand and I wondered what you think about this country in which we teach.

Do you consider Thailand to be a Third World country, a Developing country or a developed country...and why??

[Loxley]

A developing county no doubt...you only have to look at Bangkok to look at that

Concepts of 3rd world are a bit outdated and are a throwback to the cold war days

[Umbuku]

I've always described Thailand as second world aping to be first world, but thinking that they already are.

The big cities have a thin veneer of first world services and infrastructure.
A veneer that is easy to see through only after a short time here.
You don't have to go far out of the cities to find yokels driving 40 year old trucks held together by electrical tape and hope.
Or a quick peek behind the facades of Silom and Sukhumvit to see the rats and backed up sewage in the back alleys.

[defender]

3rd World = former colonies
2nd World = Communist countries
1st World = Western European plus US powers and allies

Very outdated these days to think in these terms I'd say. Thailand is "developing" definitely

[kiwiling]

When Westerners come to Thailand for surgery. and the Bangkok hotels are classed as the best value for money in the world, and you look at the standard of roads and medical care, I think developing is a bit harsh...and as for rats in Sukhimvit...what about the rats in New York?

[defender]

It's an economy-wide classification though, not just based on one or two industries and absolutely nothing to do with rodents

The reason Thai hotels (and hospitals for that matter) are value-for-money is because local labour costs are low. This in turn is a by-product of a developing economy. Thailand has not developed a world-class tourism sector of its own accord, it plays host to Western hotels and Western tourists looking for value Similarly, its hospitals are only frequented by Westerners because they adhere to Western standards, use Western technology and employ Western doctors. Can you imagine a queue of rich expats outside an upcountry public hospital?
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look at the standard of roads and medical care

Very poor indeed in the main I would say!

[Magpie]

Business Mentality = Third World
Infrastructure = Second World
Scam Ability = First Class

[re_fuse]

what about the rats in New York?

THIRD WORLD

[bewildered wanderer]

Very poor indeed in the main I would say!

roads are very poor? Maybe the zoning and structure in bangkjok is chaotic, but driving from Hatyai to Bangkok to Nongkai? I would say that the roads are excellent... The are far better than the roads in the northeastern US. The roads in the southeast to midwest were relative to here...

As for medical. Where does this opinion come from? Sure they misdiagnose so that does bring the care down a bit, but wouldn't 'care' also be brought down by having to wait 3 months for an operation as is in the west? I sat there in the room when my wife had a caesarian. I also seen western C-sections. I would say smack dead-on.

I'm not coming to Thailand's defense because I believe they are first world, I voted developing... I'm just asking for your examples, experience, reasons for your answer.
You from switzerland?

[peelieorion]

some elements such as healthcare are first world material. The education system apart from a few exception is third world and this will always hold Thailand back. Sadly position and money stop the cream rising to the top. Stupid people make stupid decisions which are not accountable. 'under these conditions Thailand will never be a first world country.

[defender]

Maybe the zoning and structure in bangkjok is chaotic, but driving from Hatyai to Bangkok to Nongkai? I would say that the roads are excellent

Not the point really - good roads do not a developed nation make

I'm not coming to Thailand's defense because I believe they are first world, I voted developing

Well we voted the same them. You sure sound defensive to me! I was talking from an economics viewpoint to be honest. As it's an economic classification we are discussing, our subjective and loaded opinions of Thailand's infrastructure is pretty immaterial

For an American, I can see that the healthcare system in Thailand might have its appeal - i.e. it's cheap. I'm British and the standard or care that's free-for-all is much higher generally - although for the reasons I gave above there are some very good private hospitals in Thailand.

[natalie8]

Business Mentality = Third World Infrastructure = Second World Scam Ability = First Class

[Loxley]

definitly getting site tracked on this one turning it into a Thailand bashing page some of you. It is an economic classification and its simple mathematics

Thailand is one of the 4 asian tiger economies and prior to the the financial crisis of the 1990's was highly regarded as the asian miracle. The crash was more due to policies imposed on Thailand from the outside (i.e. world bank/IMF) despite croany capitalism being blamed. How the government chooses to spend its money is quite another matter

[discus2000]

it's a third world, developing country...

It's also a 'South' country whereas Australia is a 'North' country... go figure
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so, can I vote twice?

[Well]

just labels...mean nothing.

thailand is thailand. a country...very different from many others, very similar to many others.

lables are too lazy; they don't allow one to look deeper, to draw yer own conclusions.