Mekong Subsistance Peoples of Thailand
The Mekong Basin covers 183,000 square kilometres or more than a third of Thailand and is home to about 37% of the country’s population. The Mekong peoples of Thailand enjoy the highest GDP of all the Mekong nations (approximately $900 per annum). Despite this prosperity relative to neighboring nations the parts of Thailand which fall within the Basin contrast quite strongly with the central region of Thailand in a variety of ways.
The Basin provinces demonstrate far greater proportions of ethnic minorities among their populations. They are also relatively less developed, deriving most of their earnings from agriculture and trading and the inhabitants have lower average incomes. The annual Gross Provincial Product (GPP) per capita for Bangkok in 1995 was estimated at 160,169 Baht while for the Basin provinces, it was an average of 15,579 Baht, or only 9% of the Bangkok GPP. The northeast provinces have the lowest national annual per capita GPP at 14,976 Baht.
Against an upbeat background of impressive GDP growth in Thailand, there is increasing concern that this growth is not sustainable and is causing unacceptable ecological destruction. Increasing social inequities also figure in the debate as the income gap between those in Bangkok and those in the other provinces (especially the Northeast) continue to increase. With the Mekong’s vitality going into decline due to a range of factors not least of which I the Mekong cascade of dams, more needs to be done in order to assist the Mekong peoples of Thailand.
