Rate of economic growth 1994: 8.3%

THE MIRACLE

ECONOMY Per capita GNP2		Average yearly growth of exports3
1973	1994	1970-80	1980-92
STANDARDS Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births)2		Women in secondary education %3
1970-75	1991	1970	1991

THE DOWNSIDE

. Thailand has had an annual rate of deforestation of 2.6% between 1965 and 1989 - one of the highest in Asia.⁵
. The absolute number of poor people has increased over the period of high growth rates.
. In 1992 the Thai military government under General Suchinda massacred 52 democracy demonstrators and arrested 3,000 others.
. Even after the re-establishment of civilian government the whereabouts of 21 people who disappeared during the crackdown has not been established. Extra-judicial disappearances and killings are not uncommon in Thailand.
. The fate of union leader Thonong Po-arn at the hands of the military remains unknown.⁶

Rate of economic growth 1994: 8.4%

THE MIRACLE

ECONOMY Per capita GNP2		Average yearly growth of exports3
1973	1994	1970-80	1980-92
STANDARDS Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births)2		Women in secondary education %3
1970-75	1991	1970	1991

THE DOWNSIDE

. In 1992-93, 80 political activists were detained without charge under the Internal Security Act - 126 were held altogether.
. The death penalty remains in force for a variety of crimes.
. In 1993, 28 people were sentenced to death.
. The Internal Security Law has been amended 18 times - each time to give it more bite.
. Only 12% of manufacturing workers have been able to unionize.⁸

Rate of economic growth 1994: 8.8%

THE MIRACLE

ECONOMY Per capita GNP2		Average yearly growth of exports3
1973	1994	1970-80	1980-92
STANDARDS Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births)2		Women in secondary education %3
1970-75	1991	1970	1991

THE DOWNSIDE

. For well-educated parents there are subsidies of up to $5,000 for their first three children. For the poorer and less educated, subsidies are far less generous.
. Undocumented foreign workers comprise 16% of all prison inmates.
. Some 28% of GDP is siphoned off as transnational profits.
. Women make around 75% of men's wages.
. Unlike other Asian NICs local business has a small role, contributing only 30% of gross manufacturing output.⁷
. Capital punishment applies for many offences. Caning is mandatory for 30 offences.
. Riding with a damaged ticket while on the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit System incurs a fine.

Rate of economic growth 1994: 4.9%

THE MIRACLE

ECONOMY Per capita GNP2		Average yearly growth of exports3
1973	1994	1970-80	1980-92
STANDARDS Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births)2
	1970-75	1991

THE DOWNSIDE

. Hong Kong is the most densely populated city in the world - 105,000 people per square kilometre (1987), 2.5 times the density of Lagos, which is next on the list.
. Between 1961 and 1981 population increased by 53% and the number of cars by 700%.
. The squatter population is in excess of 250,000.
. Hong Kong harbour and surrounding waters are badly polluted. Over 1.6 million cubic meters of waste flow into Victoria Harbour every day. Repulse Bay has recorded water quality 52 times worse than European safety standards.⁹

Rate of economic growth 1994: 6.3%¹

THE MIRACLE

ECONOMY Per capita GNP2		Average yearly growth of exports3
1973	1994	1970-80	1980-92
STANDARDS Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births)2		Women in secondary education %3
1970-75	1991	1970	1991

THE DOWNSIDE

. Korea has one of the worst records for industrial disputes over wages and arduous, dangerous working conditions. In 1987 there were 3,742 strikes. In 1992 the number dropped to 235.
. An average of five workers are killed on the job every day and 390 more injured - one of the highest occupational-accident rates in the world.
. Women workers earn less than 60% of male wages.
. In 1991 Korea had the highest number of labour representatives in prison of any country in the world.⁴

Rate of economic growth 1994: 6.2%

THE MIRACLE

ECONOMY Per capita GNP2		Average yearly growth of exports3
1973	1994	1970-80	1980-92
n /a

THE DOWNSIDE

. Environmental decay: Some 20% of farmland is polluted by industrial waste water; 30% of the rice grown by heavy metals. More than 50% of river water is badly polluted.
. There are three factories per square kilometre.
. Air quality standards in Taipei are unsafe 17% of the time even by lenient official standards. Cancer rates have doubled over the last 30 years and asthma cases among children have increased four-fold over the last 10.
. Labour disputes grew from 15 in 1965 to 485 in 1975 to 1,622 in 1985. Between 1985 and 1987, 4,540 labour disputes went to arbitration before district courts.⁷