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What a laughable take. Homelessness, beggars, crimes and pickpockets are not signs of a healthy and strong city, they are indications of poor administration, non-existence of social safety net, and prone to instability.
Just because large cities in America have a ton of homeless people, drug addicts, bad neighbourhoods and violence doesn't mean cities in other countries have failed as miserably.
It's pretty much consensus among urban scholars. I'll admit perhaps I shouldn't state it like it is irrefutable...many urban theories change over time...nevertheless it's certainly not a "laughable take" when it's a fairly basic tenet among academics.
And a strong social safety net would help and is an admirable goal for a society. I was referring to the dynamics of large countries with city and rural populations (so no city-states) and in such a case social safety nets would have to be instituted at the federal level. If the city introduces it on its own you can be certain there will be just as many new poor and destitute arriving as the benefits increase.
Bangkok is a massive city, and the poverty for such a massive city in a developing country honestly isn't that widespread as a proportion of its population and seldom very severe.
I feel the same. I remember Bangkok in the 1990s when I did see poverty, but I don't really see it in Bangkok in 2020, or in the last decade.
Thailand's family sizes are quite similar to Japan, S. Korea, etc...usually 2 kids or 2.5 kids or something like that, and a high literacy race. It's quite a bit different than somewhere like Manila with double or triple the average family sizes, and widespread poverty throughout the metro.
This last time I was in Bangkok, I made a big effort to get all around the metro to many places that only Thais go, and it all looked really good to me! Not much different than say South Korea where you might see places that don't look sparkling, but they certainly aren't large swaths of poverty-stricken like you'd see in like the Philippines.
That being said, I'm sure Taiwan is better than Thailand with that overall.
It's not just the visual poverty. My main point is that Bangkok (or Thailand in general) largely markets itself as a paradise for sleazy Westerners. When a country has to resort to that kind of strategy for foreign money, I find it disturbing.
What a laughable take. Homelessness, beggars, crimes and pickpockets are not signs of a healthy and strong city, they are indications of poor administration, non-existence of social safety net, and prone to instability.
Just because large cities in America have a ton of homeless people, drug addicts, bad neighbourhoods and violence doesn't mean cities in other countries have failed as miserably.
That's an odd take. Bangkok has a lot of family visitors and a ton of visitors from outside the West. There's also a fairly large international business community as it's not at all economically isolated and has a very diversified economy. It has a major manufacturing industry even with capital intensive goods like automobile production--so much so that manufacturing in these more advanced goods are the largest single sector of metropolitan Bangkok's economy. The country also has a substantial both raw and processed foods industry. There's also a pretty notable media production industry though it's mostly its movies that are making some international headway as the music is standard sentimental pop that all of Southeast and East Asia does. There's also a burgeoning financial services industry. Thailand's certainly not a developed country right now, but it's advanced really quickly and your view of the place seems to be about a Thailand from decades ago.
I feel the same. I remember Bangkok in the 1990s when I did see poverty, but I don't really see it in Bangkok in 2020, or in the last decade.
Thailand's family sizes are quite similar to Japan, S. Korea, etc...usually 2 kids or 2.5 kids or something like that, and a high literacy race. It's quite a bit different than somewhere like Manila with double or triple the average family sizes, and widespread poverty throughout the metro.
This last time I was in Bangkok, I made a big effort to get all around the metro to many places that only Thais go, and it all looked really good to me! Not much different than say South Korea where you might see places that don't look sparkling, but they certainly aren't large swaths of poverty-stricken like you'd see in like the Philippines.
That being said, I'm sure Taiwan is better than Thailand with that overall.
Yea, I'm of similar opinion. Taiwan does seem to have its **** together more than Thailand overall, but that doesn't mean Thailand is a cesspool.
That's an odd take. Bangkok has a lot of family visitors and a ton of visitors from outside the West. There's also a fairly large international business community as it's not at all economically isolated and has a very diversified economy. It has a major manufacturing industry even with capital intensive goods like automobile production--so much so that manufacturing in these more advanced goods are the largest single sector of metropolitan Bangkok's economy. The country also has a substantial both raw and processed foods industry. There's also a pretty notable media production industry though it's mostly its movies that are making some international headway as the music is standard sentimental pop that all of Southeast and East Asia does. There's also a burgeoning financial services industry. Thailand's certainly not a developed country right now, but it's advanced really quickly and your view of the place seems to be about a Thailand from decades ago.
Agreed, and I too, have noticed the amazing diversity of the BKK economy, which accounts for half the country's GDP. I especially noticed it around sunrise at the morning markets.
More than half the international visitors were female, last year, so they are not promoting sleaze, but you could easily find websites that promote adult nightlife, usually run by an American, Ozzie, or Brit. The tourism industry has been over focussed on China, but that is what they believe is their bread and butter (or rice and rats). Japan has a steady and strong influence, but not growing much. The stage may be being set for massive tourism from India. There is a small overlay of Thai and Indian culture that are wealthy developers. I have stayed at a few OYO hotels, recently, and they are Indian, expanding into Thailand rapidly.
The stage may be being set for massive tourism from India. There is a small overlay of Thai and Indian culture that are wealthy developers. I have stayed at a few OYO hotels, recently, and they are Indian, expanding into Thailand rapidly.
That's interesting. My last name in Ao Nang (Krabi), it was overwhelming how many Indian business people I saw opening businesses. Indian restaurants, tailor shops (galore), and other touts. It was hardcore with their aggressiveness, completely the opposite of the Thai style.
Last edited by Tiger Beer; 09-13-2020 at 11:16 PM..
That's interesting. My last name in Ao Nang (Krabi), it was overwhelming how many Indian business people I saw opening businesses. Indian restaurants, tailor shops (galore), and other touts. It was hardcore with their aggressiness, completely the opposite of the Thai style.
Can be a pain in the tourist areas..they used to be mostly Nepalese on Sukhumvit and Khao San Road, but there are more Indian shops, nowadays. They would be considered a much lower merchant class than the property developers, same with the watch sellers, who are annoying as it gets. More than a few Pakis and Bangladeshis present themselves as Indian, which also confuses matters.
I recall hearing that Nana Entertainment Plaza is Thai-Indian owned.
I'm kind of from the school of 'Bangkok #1' based on tourist numbers, but for living, I can see how Taipei could pull way above what I might think.
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