Tell me what's going on

[Socrates]

Five suggestions to stimulate the economy in both the short and longer run.

1. Cutting interest rates down to a minimum to make people start borrowing again, at least for cars, consumption. Will make it affordable for more people to increase consumption and less interesting to save.
2. Stimulate and make sure it’s enough credit around for those manufacturing for inland consumption (actually this is what China should do – stimulate growth in consumption rather then export growth.). Make sure the banks and financial institutions are both in solidity and have a strong and solid enough liquidity base to pour out money, support their risk willingness.
3. Stop or cut as Sardines put it earlier, spending on the armed forces down to a minimum. But hey; we all know that this want happen in any nation needing to cut spending here – nor the US or nor Thailand. That Thailand’s got an aircraft carrier is a theme to make a movie out of; a classical comedy theme.
4. Starts stimulate the economy in the poorest regions; start a long term plan of investing in schools, infrastructure, industry etc. Let’s face it the rice fields and agriculture business is what’s keeping these regions down and is not the future for most people (not suggesting Thailand stop growing agricultural products but modernize the industry). Pour out money on projects in these regions.
5.Borrow money abroad to finance the stimulus, besides starting increasing taxation harder on the wealthier classes both direct and indirect. Propose an increase in VAT on luxury goods. A direct redistribution of wealth wouldn’t actually be nor undesired and nor unacceptable also in my eyes, and I am definitely no socialist. The GDP growth would defend the borrowing abroad.

[sulasno]

The spread between deposit and lending rates is an issue that the Finance Minister had mentioned; but the greedy banks are not willing to reduce the spread; maintaining it at 6-7%

[Socrates]

What's the money market rate at the moment? I have to admit I don't follow this very closely in Asia. Guess both TZ, Chris TH or Sul can contribute here?

[sulasno]

saving rates are about 0.75% and MLR (minimum lending rates) are about 7;
MLR is same same as Prime rate

[villager]

No need to be sorry Kanttouch,I had,nt a clue either, I just got the info off my wife cos this is a major cane cutting area(Buriram) .

[sulasno]

wow just heard this on the local TV

some retailers offering double shopping coupons for your 2000 cheques

[Socrates]

Anybody seen the story about the Japanese Finance minister being so stimulated he had to resign office?

[airport_worker]

Anybody seen the story about the Japanese Finance minister being so stimulated he had to resign office?

****trying to resist****** ****resistance failure****

At a news conference, a journalist said to the politician running for the presidency, "Your secretary said publicly that you have a small p*nis. Would you please comment on this."

"The truth is," replied the politician, "that she has a big mouth."

[sulasno]

[Socrates]

Anybody seen the story about the Japanese Finance minister being so stimulated he had to resign office?

****trying to resist****** ****resistance failure****

At a news conference, a journalist said to the politician running for the presidency, "Your secretary said publicly that you have a small p*nis. Would you please comment on this."

"The truth is," replied the politician, "that she has a big mouth."

You trying to dick’le me here??? Laughing all my nix out.