In a message dated 97-09-14 19:07:16 EDT, Doug writes (er asks): >Any thoughts on whether the financial crises in Thailand and Malaysia mark >the end of the Asian miracle, or are just a little bump in the road with >minimal real world fallout? I think the Asian miracle will take a while to die--buuut, I think alot of the growth in specifically Thailand and Malaysia has been from the over working of natural resources which are beginning to fade away. For example, in Thailand, artificial shrimp and sea farming has destroyed ancient mangroves and local ecology. The farms have a short life span, they destroy the local independent economy, and then move on, sort of like strip mining the sea and leaving nothing in their wake. In Malaysia, there has also been a strong destruction of local ecologies and economies without adequate long-term replacement. They are probably both going to have to rely more on production type industries. Since the 1980s, there has been some movement in Malaysia to increase wages--which means that many foreign corporations will probably close shop and seek better exploitation rates elsewhere. I don't know about the labor movement in Thailand, but that close to Laos, China, and Vietnam, I can't imagine that there isn't something 'cooking'. maggie coleman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
