A double-edged sword
You may have read about the double-digit growth of the Cambodian economy in the past few years. This year the economy is expected to shrink by 1% because of the global economic downturn. The lack of diversity in the economy, which relies mainly on textile, tourism, and construction, makes the country particularly vulnerable to global economic conditions.
Any real development should focus on improving the livelihoods of the middle 70% of the population, not just the top few percents. It is my impression that middle 70% still make less than $100 a month. For instance, waiters and waitresses at restaurants in Cambodia make only about $50 a month. Their monthly incomes are barely enough to take out their families to the restaurant where they work for just one meal. A typical waitress in the U.S., by contrast, earns enough to dine her family at the restaurant where she works 20 to 25 times a month.
What’s the point of building all the homes and high-rise condos if the average Khmer person can’t afford to live in them? Not surprisingly, there are many empty flats and condos as a result of the recent housing boom. That’s because they’re built by the affluent minority for speculative investment purposes. They’re not built for those without adequate housing. It’s inconceivable that a Khmer couple who makes $100-200 a month would be able to afford a $100,000 flat, especially without financing.
The next logical step would be to encourage the influx of foreigners and allow them to own properties in Cambodia to fill up these empty units. This is exactly what is happening in Cambodia. Khmer people are becoming second-class citizens within our own country. Many of our young people are taking low-paying jobs as waitresses, security guards, tuk-tuk drivers, janitors, and prostitutes to serve foreign expatriates living and doing business in Cambodia. At many establishments Khmer employees have to speak a foreign language to communicate with their bosses.
Development can be a double-edged sword. If it is to play a constructive role in Cambodia, it must focus on raising the living standards of the average Khmer citizen, not just adding to the already excessive wealth of the rich. Otherwise, it will lead to a neocolonialist situation where the majority of the host population are subjugated to serve the interests of the local and foreign elite.