Cambodia: the economic growth and the daily reality of Khmer People
Cambodia: the economic growth and the daily reality of Khmer People
Vong Chandara, 31 years old, designer
February 2, 2012
Based on forecast announced by Hun Sen, Cambodia’s per capita GDP should increase from US$ 830 in late 2010 to US$ 1 000 in 2013[1]. In medium term, the economic growth should, according to him, reach at least 6% per year. Furthermore, always according to the statistics of his government, the percentage of people living with less than US$ 1 per day (i.e. below the poverty level) was 25.8% in 2010, a spectacular decrease from 45% in 2005.
In absolute terms, these figures seem to be very encouraging. But beyond this statistical embellishment, Hun Sen seems to have deliberately forgotten to tell us in which conditions this extraordinary economic growth has been and will be realized and to mention who will really benefit from this growth on the daily basis.
Not being an economist and due to the absence of intervention by specialists in this field from the Khmer intelligentsia, I just try to analyze, with my professional background as a car designer, the “backstage” of this spectacular economic growth.
If one were to believe the statistics provided by Hun Sen’s regime, the majority of Khmer people have significantly benefited from this spectacular growth and should see their living conditions improve at an astonishing pace in the years to come. But how is exactly the life of Khmer people on the daily basis?
To better understand the reality of Cambodians life on the daily basis, it is necessary to identify the main characteristics of the “regime of Cambodian economic growth” set up by the ruling class in power for more than 30 years.
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