Self-Sufficiency Economy

Perhaps Economists in the 'developmentalism' school are not, or do not want to, understand the economic system (if it is a system) called 'self-sufficiency economy'.

No, I am not talking about superficial trend most Thais are adopting. Last year, I am amazed by the billboard-size advertisement at the toll way terminal to Muang-Thong Thani. It was a polo shirts ad. saying [in Thai] "Do good for the father[which means, I think, the king], wear self-sufficiency economy polo shirts."

I don't mind the fact that they are selling things, but they're 'taking advantage of the moment' very unfairly. We know how effective advertisements to the people today. Instead of encouraging people to spend less, this company told people to spend money (in order to) be good!
Many works on economic developments tend to aviod talking about self-sufficiency economy. This is because it doesn't effect growth. Right now the 'greenness' becomes the world's biggest trend. You have to have a cloth bag. You have to have a hybrid car. You have to consume organic food. etc. etc.

It fell into another superficiality calls 'enoughism'.

At the end of the day, people are buying 'green' stuff just to show others that they are conscious about climate change. It becomes 'fashion'.

I'm not trying to confuse you by mixing climate change and self-sufficiency economy together. They are related.

When we spend less, we create less pollution, don't we?

I have a story for you:

A businessman went on a vacation at the beach. As dusk almost fell in his first day, he saw an old man sitting by the sea, staring at the sky for a long time until it got dark.
He carried his curiosity to his sleep. Then the next day, around the same time he saw the same old man again. This time he walked to that old man. He began to ask.
"Sir, why are you sitting here doing nothing?"
"I am enjoying the view, young man." the old man replied.
"Aren't you suppose to be working?" the businessman continued.
The old an smiled, looked at him without any answer. He replied with a question;
"What do we get from working?"
A young businessman was surprised, he replied;
"money?"
"And what do you after that?" the old man asked further.
"Umm...find more money?"
"And?"
"Then I'll buy a house, a car...I don't know" he began to hesitate.
"Then when you get older, say, retired. What would you do?" the old man did not stop smiling.
"Well, I might take a rest, find happiness, I suppose."
The old man stood up, held his hands and said;

"That's what I am doing right now, my friend"
----

ps. I don't mean that you should stop working, don't get me wrong!