Thailand's problem? Too much success

Government must stop battling currency and start future-proofing economy

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20191120 Patong beach Phuket.jpg

Patong beach on Phuket island's west coast: it is time for Thailand to step up efforts to diversify the economy away from its reliance on beach resorts. © LightRocket/Getty Images

As the global trade war upends developing nations everywhere, Thailand has a decidedly contrarian problem on its hands: too much winning.

The powerful rally of its currency, the baht, is laced with irony. In 1997, Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy was ground zero for the region's near-collapse. Its runaway debt, weak risk management and opacity were held up as Exhibit A for why the booming Asian Tiger economies crashed.

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