‘Tiger Farms’ Still Operate in Laos, Defying Trafficking Bans
RFA - Sat, 2018-01-20 04:50The numbers held in captivity continue to grow despite a year-old government pledge to close the farms. catched
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Money and Prices In Laos
Posted by Web of Cambodia.
business and economy
By Decree 14 of March 1988, prices of most goods are no longer set by the government; exceptions include basic utility and mineral prices. Instead, a new system of "unified prices"--free market prices--was instituted. As a result, prices of rationed and subsidized goods such as rice, sugar, cloth, and petroleum increased, and procurement prices were raised by 50 percent to 100 percent. In addition, in 1988 the wages of state employees, previously paid through coupons redeemable for subsidized goods at state stores, began to be gradually remonetized. Very high inflation rates soon caused a real drop in annual wages, however, and low rates of tax collection gave the government less revenue to spend on wages. As a result, large arrears built up on salaries that are quite small. In 1990 salaries were increased by 83 percent, and arrears began to be paid off, contributing to the increase of 65 percent in government expenditure. Once paid, however, salaries almost immediately go again into arrears. Moreover, the salary increase is not sufficient for state employees to recoup real losses from inflation. |
Related ArticlesLatest News‘Tiger Farms’ Still Operate in Laos, Defying Trafficking BansRFA - Sat, 2018-01-20 04:50The numbers held in captivity continue to grow despite a year-old government pledge to close the farms. catched China Pours Billions in Aid and Investment Into LaosRFA - Sat, 2018-01-13 00:50Projects are planned across many sectors, with Laos's leaders counting on economic growth to support their legitimacy. catched Beijing, Phnom Penh Ink Billions of US Dollars’ Worth of Development Deals For CambodiaRFA - Fri, 2018-01-12 03:50The slew of agreements comes as Western governments shun Cambodia amid a political crackdown. catched
Latest ArticlesForestry in LaosPosted by Web of Cambodia. agriculture | business and economyIn the 1950s, forests covered 70 percent of the land area in Laos; yet, by 1992, according to government estimates, forest coverage had decreased by nearly one-third, to just 47 percent of total land area. Despite the dwindling expanse, timber--including ironwood, mahogany, pine, redwood, and teak--and other forestry products-- benzoin (resin), charcoal, and sticklac--constitute a valuable supply of potential export goods. The forest has also been an important source of wild foods, herbal medicines, and timber for house construction and even into the 1990s continues to be a valued reserve of natural products for noncommercial household consumption. Since the mid-1980s, however, widespread commercial harvesting of timber for the export market has disrupted the traditional gathering of forest products in a number of locations and contributed to extremely rapid deforestation throughout the country. |