In spite of such problems as the widespread flooding that hit the country during
late 2011 and the ongoing threat of civil unrest as the country's poorer citizens
demand a greater share of the national income, incomes in Thailand are rising rapid,
boosted by tourism and direct foreign investment, particularly from Japanese
companies in the automotive and computer industries. This is fuelling the growth of
a much broader middle class, which increasingly has access to consumption
opportunities that were once the preserve of a tiny elite.