Farang husbands provide massive boost to economy in Isaan (Northeastern Thailand)
A recent study by the University of Khon Kaen has found that foreign men married to women of Isaan (the north-eastern region of Thailand) have incredibly boosted gross domestic product in the region. This is what Daily News Online revealed 2 days ago.
It’s not really a surprise to anyone who knows Thailand but the magnitude of the phenomenon showed in this study is gigantic: farang husband made the GDP of the poorest region of Thailand rise by almost 9 billion baht and helped to create 747,000 jobs in the region.
According to the study, after a woman from north east Thailand gets married to or engages in a long term relationship with a foreigner, on average she will normally send approximately 9,600 Baht per month back to her family in the region. This money is normally used to help the family with living expenses, purchasing food, paying for utility bills and education.
The study also found that on average, the wife and foreign husband will normally return to the wifes family home in the region at least once a year, sometimes staying for as long as one month, which results in a dramatic increase in financial spending in the local area. This increase in spending is mostly seen in the automotive, retail and wholesale sectors, as well as in the local property market. The purchase of household goods, personal items and gold also normally increase during this time.
The study found that most foreign men marrying women from north east Thailand came from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
