Connor-+Economy+and+Agriculture

**Economy and Agriculture**  -    Mainly export based  -    World’s highest growth rate between 1985-1996 (9.4%)  -    Economy contracted 1.9% in 1997 o  Again in 1998 by 10.8% (due to the Baht [Thai currency] reaching its lowest point ever) o  Asian Financial Crisis- July 1997 §  Period of financial crisis (most affected were Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea) but raised fears of worldwide economic meltdown ·  Shortage of foreign exchange which caused the value of currencies to drop dramatically  -    Emerging economy, newly developed - Agriculture has been the primary means of employment, but industry, commerce, and services account for the 80% of the gross domestic product  o  World's largest producers of rice, and this accounts for much of the country's agricultural output **Agriculture**  -     Rice  - C    assava (tapioca)  - R    ubber  - C    orn  - S    ugarcane <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> - C    oconuts <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> - S    oybeans <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> - E    lephants o   Very important part of Thai culture §  National symbol of Thailand o  White elephants were incredibly special, they exemplified the king’s glory and honor §  The more white elephants you had, the greater a king you were o  Smart land mammals and hard-working §  Provide transportation §  War elephants used in battles against the Burmese and other countries in Asia
 * Economy**

Factbook, The World. "Thailand." //CIA- The World Factbook//. 23 April 2009. CIA- Central Intelligence Agency. 10 May 2009 []

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