Figure 18.1 shows Thailand’s economic growth since 1950, expressed in terms of real per capita income. This is one of the best records of any country in the world. The 1997 crisis was setback, but only temporary. Most strikingly, over the past generation, since around 1980, average real per capita income has tripled. Most Thais are much better off than their parents were. Poverty has declined from around 40 per cent in 1980 to 6 per cent today but growing prosperity has other results. People have more assets to protect, more interests to pursue. They have more aspirations for themselves and their children. They have more education, more access to information. And they have more demands on the state to provide public goods like education and health, and public services like a working legal system and functioning police.