KHON KAEN:-- A study recently carried out by Khon Kaen University has found that foreign men who are married to women from Isaan have boosted gross domestic product in the region by almost 9 billion baht.



The findings of the study, which looked at the impact foreign husbands have on the economy in the north east of Thailand were unveiled by Asst Prof Kalapapruek Piwthongngam, from the Faculty of Management Science at the E-saan Centre for Business and Economic Research, reports Daily News Online.



According to the study, after a woman from north east Thailand gets married to or engages in a long term relationship with a foreigner, on average she will normally send approximately 9,600 Baht per month back to her family in the region. This money is normally used to help the family with living expenses, purchasing food, paying for utility bills and education.



The study also found that on average, the wife and foreign husband will normally return to the wifes family home in the region at least once a year, sometimes staying for as long as one month, which results in a dramatic increase in financial spending in the local area.



This increase in spending is mostly seen in the automotive, retail and wholesale sectors, as well as in the local property market. The purchase of household goods, personal items and gold also normally increase during this time.



The E-saan Centre for Business and Economic Research also estimated that this spending helped to create nearly 747,000 jobs in the region.



The centre found that increasingly more women aged between 20 and 40 years old from the north east are marrying foreign men, with a definite trend developing, according to Asst Prof Kalapapruek.



The study found that most foreign men marrying women from north east Thailand came from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.

Thank for posting this one, old son. A couple of years ago, I said a similar thing on the other channel - that farang husbands/partners significantly contributed to the Isaan economy. Unfortunately, an ex-pat subject matter expert on all things north-east told me I was talking rubbish*.

Now I'm vindicated and I love being right.




* Sometimes, I do spout drivel, readers, but if I do then I'll normally give you a nod and a wink.

How about the 3.3 odd billion baht that foreign husbands averagely bring into just Udon Thani province per year, and the multiply that for the nation. Mind boggling and that is just a very conservative figure.

High fives Earnest.

You'd expect some upside with all the walking ATM machines you see in the Isan region now. On my last two visits the Mrs. emotionally pushed my arm high up my back and marched me into the gold shops.

Over 18 years, we've averaged around $20,000 a year in Thai Baht spending........that includes our vehicles, but does not include the money we spent buying two pieces of land nor the money we spent building our home....so factor in anotHer 2 million baht, give or take a few hundred thousand.
That said, I feel fairly confident saying that all the BMWs, Mercs, a few Porches etc rolling on the streets of Udon aren't the result of the money expats spend in Udon. But driving the back sois of a village like Nongwahsaw......you can easily see the impact (over the years), of the expat influence.

Yes, I put my hand up their Barney. I paid for the oldest step-daughter to go through university and now she's been making some dosh in Bangkok for a few years. She recently borrowed heaps to buy a new car as the Thais love to do. She'd never have been able to do that without some education.

So GT you are actually saying that having put your step daughter through a University education she is able to borrow heaps to buy a new car, so you are equating education to borrowing, really, what other little gems of mindless information do you wish to tell us, apart from the normal ones of having a go at anything here.

Pardon me KP but your post is the pot calling the kettle black. You are having a go at me.

I'm pointing out that an education results in higher incomes which in turn stimulate the Thai economy through consumers being able to borrow. It's an example of what Barney points out - the difficulty of measuring the value of an education to the Thail economy.

I also don't consider it mindless information. I thought the whole point of udonmap was to share a bit about our lives and experiences in Udon and Thailand.

My stepson is 13, his father sells shoes in those traveling markets. Stepson has now travelled to foreign lands and back and will be starting high school in the states next year.

We don't have children but we have three young nieces and three young nephews. We are comfortably able to help with a bit of financial assistance for their education. Our three nieces, in three different grades, placed number one in their class last year and so far this school session. They may have done this without our help but it pleases both my wife and me to know that our contributions may have been of some value. Our three little nephews are just now starting school and we hope they will have the same initiative as their sisters and cousins.

At the university level, we are prepared to help the oldest girl for sure. She possesses every aspect of someone who truly wants a good education and she is prepared to work diligently to achieve her goals. She is in high school now. As the others progress in school we will make further decisions based on each one's performance and ambition.

Back in the States, I assisted my three sons with their higher education. That investment has paid off handsomely. I'm pretty sure our contributions here will do the same, if not more so.

I don't feel obligated to help, I just feel like it's the right thing to do since we are able and the family will ultimately benefit and become more self-reliant.

747,000 jobs in the region.

Man it is about time someone took a serious look at this. Living full time here I spend 1.2 Mil a year, year after year after year.

This is nice to see. But it would be a lot nicer if the Government could develop a special visa for us not requiring a annual renewal. They only look at tourist. So if that is true and we create 747 K jobs. I would say we must have a value.

This is the first time I have seen it recognized

Let's all go on strike and refuse to pay for anything more until we get some rights here in Thailand. Who knows, we may manage to gain the status of a Thai soi dog, (in the eyes of our estimable hosts), if we're lucky...not much I grant you, but at least it's a step in the right direction!

In a micro-economic sense, "we" are probably of some importance in the Issan region.

In a macro sense, I suspect we are a fly on the arrse of the elephant that is Thailand.

To give some perspective, even using the figures quoted in the OP, 9 billion baht is approximately 0.08% of Thailand's GDP (US$390 billion).

What we should not neglect is the fact the report is made on Isan ladies married to farang and sending money and/or come on holiday and spend a lot of money.

The expats that live here spend also an enormous amount of money, but that is, as far as I know, not included in the calculations of the report.

So the whole picture of spending by farang would be way bigger... :-"

Esan should start making more 20 to 40 year old women for the good of the economy. Please advise the General 555

jackspratt wrote:In a micro-economic sense, "we" are probably of some importance in the Issan region.

In a macro sense, I suspect we are a fly on the arrse of the elephant that is Thailand.

To give some perspective, even using the figures quoted in the OP, 9 billion baht is approximately 0.08% of Thailand's GDP (US$390 billion).

Gee Wizz Jack, when we speak of the unaffordability of todays migrants to the west, you rally fourth in their defense and tell us of their importance to the local economy. When foreigners in Thailand show their contribution to the local economy you run them down as insignificant. What's your problem old boy .....

Aardvark wrote:

jackspratt wrote:In a micro-economic sense, "we" are probably of some importance in the Issan region.

In a macro sense, I suspect we are a fly on the arrse of the elephant that is Thailand.

To give some perspective, even using the figures quoted in the OP, 9 billion baht is approximately 0.08% of Thailand's GDP (US$390 billion).

Gee Wizz Jack, when we speak of the unaffordability of todays migrants to the west, you rally fourth in their defense and tell us of their importance to the local economy. When foreigners in Thailand show their contribution to the local economy you run them down as insignificant. What's your problem old boy .....

This what I actually said Aardy:

At the end of the day the vast majority of migrants, from wherever they come, are good, hard working and productive members of their adopted country - and certainly so in Oz. There are certainly some ratbags and criminals, just as there are in society in general.

Which doesn't quite equate to the farang retirees (and occasional visitors) to this neck of the woods.

Can you please expand on the "run them down" bit.

Brilliant article that the local restaurant / bar owners need to present to the Local Mayor of Udon at tomorrows meeting.

That and the 20 % Drop in tourists to date and 20% drop predicted by TOT for this High Season. ( The Nation )

Govt departments on record asking for a return to democratic government as millions are boycotting Thailand due to the Junta.