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Secret of Thailand's Success? It's the Women: William Pesek Jr.

March 21 (Bloomberg) -- It's a question officials here in Asia are being posed more and more: Why are your economies so vibrant?

Answers include young and swelling populations, decreased debt, growing cities, emerging middle-class consumer sectors, evolving markets and, of course, China's rise.

Add this to that list: Women and their increasing role in Asia's economies. The idea is that the more opportunities women have, the more vibrant economies are and, consequently, the less need there is to amass a huge public debt to boost growth.

It's an idea bolstered by a new survey by MasterCard International Inc., which compares the socioeconomic level of women with men in 13 Asia-Pacific nations. The gauge uses four key indicators: participation in the labor force, college education, managerial positions and above-median income.

Which Asian nation is doing best when it comes to women's advancement? Thailand. It scored 92.3 of a possible 100, and according to MasterCard's index, 100 equals gender equality. The survey was based on interviews with 300 to 350 women in 13 nations and national statistics.

Malaysia came in second with a score of 86.2, while China came in third with 68.4. The average score in Asia was 67.7.

At the bottom of the list is South Korea (45.5), followed by Indonesia (52.5) and Japan (54.5).

Future of Asia

Perhaps it's a bizarre coincidence, yet MasterCard's findings fit quite neatly with two important issues in Asia: economic leadership and debt.

Thailand, Malaysia and China are three economies widely seen as the future of Asia. Thailand's economic boom in recent years has prompted many leaders in the region to look to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's growth strategy, known as ``Thaksinomics.''

Malaysia, which has a female central bank governor, is one of Asia's rising economic powers. China, of course, is the world's hottest economy, and one that's shaking up trade patterns and business decisions everywhere.

Korea

Something all three economies have in common is an above- average level of female participation. What the three worst ranked economies share are severe long-term economic challenges of high levels of debt and a female workforce that's being neglected.

``Research in economic history is very conclusive on the role of women in economic growth and development,'' says Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, an economic adviser to MasterCard. ``The more extensive women's participation at all areas of economic activities, the higher the probability for stronger economic growth.''

That, Hedrick-Wong says, means ``societies and economies that consistently fail to fully incorporate women's ability and talent in businesses and the workplace will suffer the consequences.''

Take Korea, which has been walking in place economically in recent years. Immediately following the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, Korea became a regional role model as growth boomed and unemployment fell. Yet a massive increase in household debt left consumers overexposed and growth slowed.

Form of Rebellion

Maybe it's a just coincidence that Korea also ranks low on measures of gender equality published by the United Nations. As of 2003, for example, it ranked below Honduras, Paraguay, Mauritius and Ukraine in terms of women's economic and political empowerment. Utilizing more of its female workforce would deepen Korea's labor pool and increase potential growth rates in the economy.

The same goes for Japan. The reluctance of Asia's biggest economy to increase female participation and let more women into the executive suite exacerbates its biggest long-term challenge: a declining birthrate. In 2003, the number of children per Japanese woman fell to a record low of 1.29 versus about 2 in the early 1970s. Preliminary government statistics suggest the rate declined further in 2004.

The trend is nothing short of a crisis for a highly indebted nation of 126 million that has yet to figure out how to fund the national pension system down the road. Yet Japan has been slow to realize that for many women, the decision to delay childbirth is a form of rebellion against societal expectations to have children and become housewives.

Annan and Women

It may be 2005, yet having children is a career-ending decision for millions of bright, ambitious and well-educated Japanese. Until corrected, Japan's birthrate will drop and economic growth will lag.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was absolutely right earlier this month when he said ``no other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity'' than the empowerment of women.

Here in Thailand, the government is getting some decent marks in this regard and the economy's 6-percent-plus growth rate may be a direct result. Thailand still has a long way to go. Women's representation in national politics is a work in progress, as are Thailand's efforts to curtail human trafficking and its thriving sex trade.

Yet the Bank of Thailand's deputy governor, Tarisa Watanagase, is a woman, as are seven of nine assistant governors. And then there's Jada Wattanasiritham, who runs Siam Commercial Bank Pcl, Thailand's fourth-biggest lender. How many female chief executives can you name in Japan or Korea?

Looked at broadly in Asia, MasterCard's survey -- based on interviews with 300-350 women in 13 nations and national statistics -- is on to something. It's that giving women more opportunities to contribute to an economy isn't just about fairness, but dollars and sense, too.

To contact the writer of this column:

William Pesek Jr. in Bangkok, or through the Tokyo newsroom

at [email protected]

To contact the editor responsible for this column:

Bill Ahearn at [email protected].

Last Updated: March 20, 2005 12:02 EST