Country Analysis: Thailand

Country Analysis: Thailand
Executive summary
The paper performs a country analysis of Thailand as a new emerging market where rapid
Gross Domestic Product growth creates attractive investment opportunities. The country will
be analyzed regarding political, economic, socio-cultural benefits, natural resource
endowment, foreign currency and exchange influences, its existing trade policies, systems,
incentives, and barriers as well as the current levels of direct foreign investment. The results
of the research show that the GDP of Thailand is booming over the last few years as a result
of utilization of natural resources and right economic policies that it embraces.
According to the report, the rise in the GDP in Thailand is as a result of both internal and
external factors. Acquisition and implementation of functional strategies and economic plans
as well as proper utilization of natural resources are among the factors resulting to increased
GDP. Some of the recommendations in this report are the adoption of the trade policies,
systems and incentives of Thailand by other countries and molding cultural values towards
economic success.
Introduction
Globally, increased rate of Gross Domestic products increases the rate of both local and
foreign investment. An increase in the amount of GDP of a particular country is a clear
indication that the economic growth and development of that country is booming. Usually,
foreign investors often research the level of the Gross Domestic Product of a state before
making investment decisions (Bown, 2014). Increase in per capita income and the GDP
shows the productivity of a given country, their motivation towards work and how aggressive
the inhabitants of that particular country are as far as working is concerned.

Country Analysis: Thailand
This report performs a country analysis of a selected country whose Gross Domestic product
is rapidly increasing to create attractive investment opportunities for foreign investors. This
report will deal with Thailand as the case study because it has an increasing GDP that has
attracted investment opportunities and hence meets the selection criteria. For complete
assessment, the report will look at the general overview of the country, its political,
economic, socio-cultural and technological influences as far as the increase in the level of
GDP is concerned. The report will also look at natural resource endowment of the country
that creates its competitive advantage as well as foreign currency and exchange influences.
The report will lastly look at the existing trade policies of the state as well as the current
levels of direct foreign investment in Thailand. From the discussions, the report will conclude
and give recommendations.
Discussion
General overview of the country
Thailand is a country that is located in Northern Asia which borders Lao, Cambodia, and
Malaysia. It came into being the mid 14th century initially under the name Siam. It was later
named Thailand meaning land of the free in 1939. Thailand is a democratic country, and it is
the second largest economy of Southeast Asia after Indonesia. Its infrastructure is well
developed, and it has a free enterprise economy as well as pro-Investment policies. From
history, Thailand has had a strong economy. Thailand is one of the countries that have
experienced a rapid GDP growth over the last few years. Its economic growth in the first two
quarters of the year 2017 was found to be the strongest in the previous four years. This rapid
growth resulted from an increase in export, agriculture and other key production sectors such
as manufacturing, hotels and restaurants, construction among others.

Country Analysis: Thailand
Political, economic, socio-cultural and technological benefits
Indisputably, political, economic, cultural and technological factors significantly affect the
level of GDP in any given country. In this case, Thailand is no exception. These factors have
positively impacted the GDP level in the Thailand economy. Between the year 2013 and
2015, Thailand experienced a slow GDP growth as a result of domestic political disorders
that led to sluggish global demand (Petri, 2016). This turmoil dropped the Thailand strong
exports such as electronics, processed foods, automobiles as well as agricultural products.
However, after the resumption of democratic rule in 6th April 2018, the GDP of this country
has been booming thereby attracting foreign investors.
Economically, the country has been doing well over the last four decades. It has managed to
migrate from a low-income country to an upper-income country within a period less than a
generation. It has been one of the countries cited with successful development stories with
strong economic growth and reduction of poverty (Salacuse, 2015). This benefit has been
gotten from sturdy and functional economic policies exhibited by this country. It has well laid
long-term economic goals for development which address issues such as economic stability,
environmental sustainability, competitiveness, human capital, equal economic opportunities
and effective government bureaucracies. This step has bolstered its economic growth hence
increased foreign investment.
As far as socioeconomic factors are concerned, Thailand has various benefits attested to this
factor. Firstly, even though there are various ethnic groups in Thailand, there is no
discrimination. Discrimination negatively affects the economic growth of a given country.