But they may be having second thoughts now that Chavalit has rescinded the gasoline levy -- that tax and new surcharges on luxury goods were meant to help Thailand meet its commitment to the IMF for a budget surplus of 1% of 1998 GDP.

CNN: UNDER THE KNIFE

In a country of 1.2 billion people, a country where years of staggering economic growth annually create tens of thousands of new millionaires and a recent slowdown has done little damage to a thriving luxury goods market, far less than one ten-thousandth of the population admits they are in the top tax bracket.

NPR: In India, Dodging Taxes Is Part Of The Game