School size matters, but it should not be the only thing that counts. During the past week, there has been an intense public debate: Should the Education Ministry close down or merge small schools, especially those in rural areas? Some have argued that closing down small schools is a huge mistake, as affected pupils will […]
Economists expect the Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to cut its policy rate when its members convene on May 29, but say the expected cut is attributable to signs of economic slowdown, not political pressure. Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong has consistently said the central bank should cut the key rate by more than […]
SPECIAL REPORT: The government must find a way to balance good health with good economics. The Universal Healthcare Coverage scheme (UC) has experienced a number of difficulties since it was launched 12 years ago, with financial problems being among its biggest challenges. The UC, which was introduced in 2001, was originally known as the “30-baht […]
Authorities should use capital flow management to address baht appreciation rather than wait for an interest rate cut by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), because foreign capital inflows are going to persist, says Ammar Siamwalla, an economist at the Thailand Development Research Institute. He said measures to rein in short-term capital inflows are appropriate, considering […]
Winston Churchill famously declared: “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.” This is certainly true. My research shows that the Thai state has extended social welfare and offered social protection schemes to the people only in periods of democratic government. For example, social security, unemployment insurance, […]
With bribes hitting 30-50 per cent of project prices, and the public showing signs of becoming inured to the practice, corruption has reached a critical point, the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) said. “Back in 1997, people used to react strongly when it found that bribes were 10-18 per cent [of project],” Deunden Nikomborirak from […]
