Category: Daily Life in Cambodia

Hey, I paid for it!

“If you’ve got it, flaunt it!” is an axiom known around the world. Here in Cambodia, there are not as many opportunities for flaunting as in some other countries, but one possibility is getting a street named after you. Rich people, for a $300,000 “investment” to the prime minister’s party, get a title that identifies them as a rich supporter of the ruling party and gets their name placed on the street sign.

It can get a bit ridiculous. In the U.S., you might see “Jefferson Street” or some such on the corner sign, but take a look at this Phnom Penh street sign: “Samdech” is the first of the titles and honorifics the man has bought and of course they ALL have to be on the sign. It makes the lettering too small to be read but so what? This isn’t about helpful signage!

Smaller than SME

SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) are generally large enough that they need to be registered as companies, need a license, and pay taxes. They are part of the formal economy. Much of Cambodian commerce is in the informal economy, though. This fruit seller is a good example. A woman stakes out part of the street–part of the lane, not part of the “sidewalk”—and sets up shop. The government doesn’t get any tax revenue from her but the local police will. She pays them off to allow her to stay on the street.

SME

In the business world, SME stands for Small and Medium Enterprises, the smaller type of company that operates in every country and in many countries is the main group of companies. This car, loaded with all sorts of breads and rolls to be delivered to a local store frequented by foreigners, exemplifies the mode of operation of SMEs. Somewhere in Phnom Penh—maybe in the owner’s home–there is a small bakery producing breads that need to be delivered. This young man loads up the car’s back seat, rear window, and trunk and gets the fresh goods to the store each morning.