This rivalry also created openings for private businessmen to gain part of the expanding telecom business. But to succeed, they had to operate in a political environment that was unstable. And they had in to pay. While researching the book Corruption and Democracy Thailand in the early 1990s, we asked Thaksin what the going rate was for kickbacks on projects. It is a measure of his openness that he replied that 10 percent was normal but could drop down to 3 s percent on projects with a very large budget. He was of cours talking generally, not in reference to any particular project, payee, or recipient.