In less than six weeks Thailand's citizens will head to the polls to render judgment on a government that says it has revived the national economy and now wants a mandate to transform it.

That Thailand has prospered of late is not in doubt. Yet even ardent Thai Rak Thai supporters will agree that the prosperity needs to be spread more broadly and equitably. Detractors will argue that prosperity in some areas is built on a foundation of debt _ at both the state and household levels _ that could crumble in the face of a new and unexpected shock.

Not that there haven't been some shocks already. The economy has managed, though, to weather the impact of external factors such as surging energy costs and terrorism, as well as domestic difficulties such as bird flu and seemingly intractable unrest in the deep South.

Does Thailand have what it takes to remain resilient and adaptable in the face of mounting challenges? It's a question policymakers, analysts and business leaders will debate as they reflect on the year just ending and ponder the challenges going forward.

In the 2004 Year-End Economic Review, Bangkok Post writers look at how businesses in many key sectors are adapting to new challenges, and the role they see themselves playing in a broader national development strategy.

In columns specially written for this publication on pages 18 and 19, Dr Uttama Savanayana, a Thai Rak Thai adviser, and Dr Trairong Suwankhiri, a veteran Democrat, make the case for the visions and policies of their respective parties.

Regardless of what one thinks of either side's arguments, the debate in the months ahead is sure to be as stimulating as it is necessary.