Anti-government forces Bangkok have vowed to rid Thailand of all vestiges of Thaksin — including Thaksinomics. So let’s pause to cast a medium-term eye over the country’s economic performance during the period (2001 to the present) that has been dominated by Thaksin-esque policies.

Here is the record on GDP per capita (expressed in 2005 US$).

GDP per capita

In 2001 GDP per capita (expressed in 2005 US$) was $2227; in 2012 it was $3352. That’s a 50% increase in real terms – not bad!

Here is a comparison of annual GDP per capita growth in Thailand and Australia.

GDP per capita growth

Australia is no slouch when it comes to economic performance. Thailand has outpaced it in all but two years since 2001.

But what about the social impacts of Thailand’s growth? Here is one indicator … health expenditure per capita.

Health Expenditure per capita

In 2001 health expenditure per capita was $167 (this time in constant 2005 international $). By 2011 this had more than doubled to $353. Not bad at all!

Of course this sort of increase comes at a cost. One of the claims levelled against the current government is that debt is getting out of control. So what’s the medium-term story? Here is a chart of the government debt to GDP ratio.

Debt GDP ratio

Certainly some increase in 2010 and 2013, but the overall trend during the Thaksin-esque era has been downwards.

I’m sure there are plenty of other indicators and comparisons – good, not-so-good and bad – that could be used to plot Thailand’s economic performance since 2001 (comments on other indicators would be very welcome). But the overall point is that Thailand’s voters have some sound economic reasons to keep on electing Thaksin and his allies.

Strong economic growth, and increasing government spending on health, welfare and rural development, didn’t start with Thaksin, but he and his allies have been able to effectively place growing prosperity at the heart of their political success.

It’s the economy …