Constraints will be discussed so as to challenge this ‘perception’ in the context of
quality of export-oriented industrialization since the mid-1980s. I shall pick up a few
fundamental problems confronting the economic development process in Thailand; economic
growth, employment structure, human capital, infrastructure and income distribution. The
main question raised is whether Thailand will be able to catch up with the East Asian NIEs in
the coming decade. A case study of Thailand might serve as a lesson for other developing
countries.