The Thai state wishes that the magic of
the market could lower income inequality and maintain high economic growth. In fact,
manufactured exports reap profits with the help of the Thai state through BOI and other
protective institutions, while the agricultural sector bears the burden of industrialization.
Foreign investment helps to hasten economic growth and induce the rural poor to migrate to
the city. There is little doubt that Thailand appears to enjoy high higgledy-piggledy economic
growth (see Siamwalla, 1993) beyond other developing countries in Asia, but lags behind in
the real meaning of economic development.