The economic development process involves a
large number of social, political, administrative, and
external factors, both in terms of causes and
consequences. To give a full account of those factors is
impossible, while to give a sufficient account of them
would require a few thick books. Since there are a
number of good books on the Thai economy, as already
listed in the references, it is justified to keep this paper
brief and focus on salient features of the country’s
economic development. For the sake of convenience, the
paper refers to the National Economic and Social
Development Plan periods as a reference.