OPINION

The effects of low skill immigration on the Thai labour market

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:50:00 -0500

There is widespread belief in Thailand that low-skilled migrant workers take away the jobs and depress the wages of local workers because they are willing to accept less pay for the same work.

Fear, speculation in Iran over military strike

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:43:00 -0500

The threat of military strikes on Iran has upturned the quiet and comfortable lives once enjoyed by many Iranians, ushering in a new era of struggle and fear.

Bangkok residents in a bind: flee rising waters, or stay?

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:30:00 -0400

Bangkok is expected to be washed by the equivalent of 480,000 Olympic swimming pools by the weekend. The northern part of the capital has already been heavily affected, and water is now moving towards the city’s centre.

Phuket living: When everything goes wrong call Dr Jock

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:16:00 -0400

Last week was one of those weeks. You've heard about everything coming in threes. Well, last week that was definitely true...

Thailand to lead 'education export' market?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:56:00 -0400

Thailand aims to position itself as a hub for international education and take full advantage of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) set to take effect in 2015, the state-run National News Bureau of Thailand reported on its website last week.

Phuket Property: Is your TV more important than your home?

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:00:00 -0400

A few days ago I went to a condo owners meeting in Phuket, Thailand. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a lover of meetings.

Travel Confessions: 'I Was a Dental Tourist in Thailand'

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:27:00 -0400

I was in Thailand with a broken tooth. Granted, it had been broken for a while after chomping on some blackcurrant gummies in London, of all things. And then, while in Bangkok, I broke another one chewing blueberry gum. What was happening to my mouth? But more importantly, could I get this all fixed here for a fraction of what it'd cost me back in the States? Thailand is growing famous as a destination for dental tourism and without a dental plan, my US dentist was quoting well into four digits for a crown, so I decided to give it a go.

Secret panel can put Americans on "kill list'

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:22:00 -0400

American militants like Anwar al-Awlaki are placed on a kill or capture list by a secretive panel of senior government officials, which then informs the president of its decisions, according to officials.

Phuket Property: No room for integrity?

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:25:00 -0400

I bought my first house in Phuket, Thailand over 7 years ago. And it's amazing the tricks some property developers try to pull and have no room for integrity.

Bring Out Your Dead - UBS Quantifies Costs Of Euro Break Up, Warns Of Collapse Of Banking System And Civil War

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:06:00 -0400

Any time a major bank releases a report saying a given course of action is too costly, too prohibitive, too blonde, or simply too impossible, it is nearly guaranteed that that is precisely the course of action about to be undertaken. Which is why all non-euro skeptics are advised to shield their eyes and look away from the just released report by UBS (of surging 3 Month USD Libor rate fame) titled "Euro Break Up - The Consequences." UBS conveniently sets up the straw man as follows: "Under the current structure and with the current membership, the Euro does not work. Either the current structure will have to change, or the current membership will have to change."

Who 'made $10bn on 10/1 bet that U.S. credit rating would be downgraded'?

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:46:00 -0400

A mystery investor or hedge fund reportedly made a bet of almost $1billion at odds of 10/1 last month that the U.S. would lose its AAA credit rating. Now questions are being asked of whether the trader had inside information before placing the $850million bet in the futures market, or if the bet happened at all.

China Comes to Thailand

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:43:00 -0400

There is perhaps nowhere in Southeast Asia where the growing influence of China – economically, militarily and diplomatically – is being felt more than in Thailand, long one of the United States’ most steadfast regional allies.

Democrats face a tough choice for party’s new sec-gen

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:56:00 -0400

The firetrucks and fireboats scandal could come back to haunt the Democrat Party’s acting deputy chief Apirak Kosayodhin, as he vies for the position of party secretary-general.

Wage increase will crash Thai economy

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:49:00 -0400

A crisis seems to come every decade or so. There is a pattern of recovery and growth leading to a false sense of confidence about the future. That false sense of confidence leads to policies and decisions which, after the next crisis grabs hold, looks foolish in hindsight. The recent financial crisis in developed countries is just that.

Analysis: Is Britain more corrupt than it thinks?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:37:00 -0400

Britons love to lecture the world about integrity and the rule of law, but the News of the World phone hacking scandal has laid bare a web of collusion between money, power, media and the police.

Pheu Thai's wage hike doesn't add up for Thailand

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:58:00 -0400

The Pheu Thai Party must reconsider its plan to raise the daily minimum wage to Bt300 if it wants to avoid damaging the job market, pushing up inflation to uncontrollable levels and causing job losses.

Pheu Thai's rare model employer?

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:49:00 -0400

As academics and business people bash the Pheu Thai party's populist 300 baht minimum wage policy as unrealistic and certain to induce runaway inflation, one entrepreneur in Khon Kaen has implemented the rate in the expectation his business will thrive as a result.

Thailand, an amazing place for kids to grow up in

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 09:39:00 -0400

Golly gosh, what wouldn't I give to be a kid again. There are so many perks and freebies to be had growing up in Thailand in 2011. For starters, tomorrow all Thai children aged seven and over will be entitled to their own free ID card. Branded for life, baby, yeah!

Thai Calm May Rely on Delaying Thaksin Return

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:30:00 -0400

Thaksin Shinawatra’s allies plan to use their electoral mandate to address what they call injustices committed since a coup in 2006. Moving too fast risks conflict with the Thai military that overthrew them.

Could Thailand's election spell uncertainty for its economy?

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:56:00 -0400

Thailand is going to the polls this weekend – and the results could have a significant impact on its economy.