Poll finds confidence at critical low: Money politics breeds cynicism.

Byline: Kerri-Ann O'Sullivan

Jan. 10--Only 9 percent of business owners in Thailand are confident in their own country's economy for the next 12 months against an East Asian regional average of 42 percent, in a survey by the consultancy Grant Thornton.

The firm surveyed 150 companies in Thailand and more than 7,000 worldwide as part of its International Business Owners Survey (IBOS).

It said 42 percent of Asian companies and 39 percent of global respondents expressed general confidence in their country's economic prospects in the next 12 months, with India leading all nations at 93 percent, followed by Ireland (84 percent) and South Africa (80 …