Interesting Statistics of Thailand VS Laos

[DD2020]

I have been thinking about this for long time,since childhood.

I know that , when talking about to unite Thailand and Laos in to one country is imposible thing to think of for now.

But, for some reasons, I think it has been some interesting points to look at.



Thailand

Total area : 514,000 sq km
Population : 65,905,410
GDP : $553.4 billion
Per Capita : $8,500


Laos

Total area : 236,800 sq km
Population : 6,834,942
GDP : $13.99 billion
Per Capita : $2,100


Merged Country

Total area : 750,800 sq km
Population : 72,740,352
GDP : $567.39 billion
Per Capita : $7,800

(Stats taken from https://www.cia.gov/)


In economy wise, I think it's quite good to push the countries together.
We will have more investments, more tourists, and more people power.

What do you people think?

[DD2020]

Please don't take this too serious, just look at the economy wise.. OK?

[foadi]

demographically it would be interesting, laos population has increased by 65% in the last 20 years, thailand only around 20%.

taking only economics into account, there are several things worth remembering. first, the provinces near the border are pretty poor to begin with, so i dont think thailand would experience the same problems germany experienced when germany reunited. however, thailand would need to invest a great deal of money into infrastructure projects in laos, and thats money i think ppl would rather have spent in thailand itself. it could help with building transport corridor to mainland china tho.

[berdnerd]

better not unite...because after a while even the city of Luang Prabang would be full of cars and skyscrapers, garbage, dog shit, and bad politicians.....

u know wat....when god started to create the earth...he decided that each country would contain one thing that was unpleasant so that particular country would not be much better than the others....in Japan, he created Mt. Fujiyama and the earthquake...in the States, there was a tornado......when he came to Thailand...he didn't know what to create....because the country was simply perfect so he created Thai ppl!! that's say something

[fridaynightlights]

If god does exist

[Mosaic]

Originally Posted by fridaynightlights

If god does exist

Undoubtedly, yes!!

[berdnerd]

Originally Posted by fridaynightlights

If god does exist

u won't laugh...it's just a silly joke..hahah

huhh....when mentioning abt god...ppl always tk it too seriously

[thainotts]

I also think the same thing. Its a bit like Britain back in 1707 with all the historical baggage too.

Economically it would benefit both sides incredibly. Thailand would need to pour investment into Laos first, but be able to reap vast benefits. Infrastructure investment would be needed to link Laos' natural resources to ports in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman sea and to China. Laotians get improved access to the world, Thailand gets more "internal" resources.

All this is IF Thailand is capable of investing such huge amounts competently and efficiently. And the social security safety net would have to be extended into Laos. The answer is unfortunately no.

The other detriment I can see is the nationalists in both countries. If we were to merge the countries, we would have to recognize that Isaan IS ethnically Lao. We would have to be more multicultural, less centralized, and above all, more democratic and more mature than the state we are in right now. None of the rubbish about "Thai" land. Its a land for all races--Thai, Lao, Mon, Chinese, Indian, Farang.

And then comes the matter of the head of state. Unfortunately we have no combined monarchy that made the English and Scottish union much easier.

[atom]

Thailand already lost political connection to Laos since they has changed their government to be communist even people share the same language and religion, but our relationship still need to improve unlike their neighbor countries.

[jarcje]

Only thing that is diffirent is that they are driving on the right side.
But then I think there aren't many cars over there...

[Pansori]

Are there any political or any other important processes taking place in Laos? The only recent international news coming from Laos was about some pregnant (!) African-British drug smuggler... besides the reputation of an "exotic" location for backpacker's... apparently those to whom Thailand is too 'mainstream' and developed these days. I really wonder what the Lao government is up to and how they see their country's future. Engagement with Thailand (due to similarities in culture and location) would be something to begin with.

[mbokudake]

Important feature is that socialist market economy system is undergone there (like China, Vietnam).

[jarcje]

Originally Posted by Nevadaboy

สีแดงคือราดยาง เห็นช่องทางเที่ยว ค้าขายยังครับ
source>>>http://www.ecotourismlaos.com/images...os/laos_bg.jpg

Map of Laos

[siameseAFSer]

IF the two countries really merge, what our politicians would first do is investing on the education system of laos - teach them how to corrupt! LOL

Anyway, what would we call ourselves or what would the Laotian call themselves IF we're merged? What would the new country's name be? I'm thinking... Thai + Lao = Thao? LOL

It would never be possible, otherwise Laos will have to change into the constitutional monarchy system or we would have to change into the republic system, which we would never ever allow the latter to happen, right? There will be great bloodshed when the two countries argue on the governing system and the new country's name. Come to think of it. Just arguing over the name of the Pra Viharn/Preah Vihear temple is already getting so troublesome!

Nevertheless, economic wise it would benefit both the countries. Laos would gain access to the seas through us while we would gain access to Vietnam and more parts of southern China by land. The Mekong region will also be dominated by us. We would gain more land, labor forces and natural resources as well as gaining easier access to the market in Laos. Etc. Etc. Etc.

However, the taxes collected from us will be used to improve the poverty situation in Laos through infrastructure investments rather than investing in our own land. Most of the capital used for the investment would be mainly from the taxes collected from us as we're the one with the larger population. Is this fair? Our official language will have to be changed from only central Thai dialect to central Thai dialect and Isaan Thai dialect. Imagine that in our tedious parliament: "คุณแน่ใจแล้วรึกับการลงทุนครั้งนี้" "แม่นแล้วเด้ออออออออ"

Who knows... that might be good 'cuz the MPs would be lazy to argue in different dialect and so the decision for the "fire truck project" can be quickly dumped away. LOL.

[jarcje]

The map when we put the two countries together.

[jarcje]

Or something like this with the Shan State
(sorry but I couldn't get the shan state correctly)

[jarcje]

Last but not least a superstate with Thai, Lao, Mon, Shan, Kayah, Karen and Tenasserim.
To big and will never happen.. just a dream..

[ThaiSiamese]

Maybe we should invade Laos and Burma and occupy their land.

[Zimoune]

dont tell that to our former PM, he may take this idea seriously anyway, i think it is quite a good thought, as well as similar language, culture, etc...

[Wisarut]

For the case of Shan state, Burmese Junta now order Myanmars Railways to build the railway to Kentung (Chiang Tung in Thai) as well as the extension from Dawei (Tawai in Thai) to Myeik (Marid in Thai) to ensure full Military control of those sensitive areas -> effectiv solutions to solve Mon Problems and Shan problems ... with piles of floating corpses along the rivers ....