Year: 2019
Thai economy’s rocky road in 2020
Kirida Bhaopichitr The Thai economy will continue to grow slowly in 2020, albeit slightly faster than this year. It is projected to expand at 2.5-3.0%, compared with 2.5% in 2019, in line with faster growth in the global economy next year. The Thai economy’s main drivers in 2020 will be recoveries in export volumes and […]
Baht, jobless surge spells tough times
Yongyuth Chalamwong Media reports and analyses from various news agencies are in agreement about the Thai economy. And it is not at all good news. Despite the government’s efforts to stimulate the economy, it is clear that the 2019 economic growth rate will fall far short of the already very modest 3% target. Blame it […]
Old laws a brake on express delivery
Urairat Jantarasiri Want to eat delicious food from famous restaurants without having to brave the notorious Bangkok traffic? Want to buy the latest mobile phone gadgets without leaving the comfort of your home? You are not alone. Millions of Thais also want to have food and goods delivered right to their doorsteps, which is why Bangkok’s […]
A win-win for nature and the economy
Sunthorn Tunmuntong The Nobel Prize in Chemistry this year went to three visionary scientists for “creating a rechargeable world”. Their works can help recharge the Thai economy too if the government does the right thing to support the lithiumion industry. Before we discuss policies, let’s remember that every time we recharge our mobile phones and […]
Scholar’s rich public legacy
ฺBangkok post – Editorial The death of renowned economist Deunden Nikomborirak, who was killed by a falling tree at her home in Bangkok yesterday, is a great loss not only for the research community but also for all consumers in Thailand. In her work at the Thailand Development Research Institute, Deunden’s numerous studies provided profound insights and, at […]
Tackling Thailand’s food-waste crisis
THANTHIP SRISUWANNAKET CARATLUX LIUMPETCH When one-third of all food produced globally is thrown away while nearly one billion people go hungry, food waste is not only a moral travesty, it’s also a crime against nature. Each year 1,300 tonnes of food waste in landfills around the world contributes 8% of the greenhouse gases that cause global […]
Bureaucratic maze hampers e-commerce growth
Thanthip Srisuwannaket E-commerce in Thailand is growing quickly and furiously. Yet the majority of operators refuse to be under the state regulatory system. You can’t blame them. Blame the bureaucratic maze that keeps them out. According to the Electronic Transactions Development Agency, there are more than 500,000 e-commerce operators in Thailand. Only 823 of them […]
Carrot and stick to beat plastic waste
Kannika Thampanishvong Wichsinee Wibulpolprasert Pramon Karnchanapimonkul Last year, a pilot whale was washed up on the shore of Songkhla province. It spat out some plastic and died. In its stomach were 80 or more plastic bags and other plastic items weighing more than eight kilogrammes. The culprit is clear, yet the tragedies continue. Earlier this year, a […]
Businesses must lead on data privacy
Chawana Huangsuntornchai After a long wait, we finally have a law to protect our data privacy. But don’t jump with joy just yet.Nowadays when we are obliged to give away our personal data for various services, it is only right to have a system to prevent data privacy violations and to punish companies for selling […]
Women bear brunt of ageing society
Worawan Chandoevwit Living to a ripe old age is appealing if you are healthy, have someone to take care of you, and have sufficient savings to ensure quality paid care. But if you are sick, dependent and poor, old age is simply a nightmare. The situation can be even more dire for single women and […]