Education woes aren’t about funding

The education ministry has always received the largest share of the fiscal budget. The Thai government’s investment in education is actually comparable to that of developed nations based on the percentage of national budgets. In the past decade, the education ministry has consistently received the highest budget allocation. It was only this year that it […]

Low-carbon transition with data

Amid escalating climate crisis concerns, the imperative for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions does not slow down their growth; instead, it paves the way for new opportunities. Cutting emissions actually enables businesses to curb costs and access new markets in the climate-conscious era. Success stories abound. For instance, a retail company in home […]

Time to ease Thai bond market rules

The Thai bond market, with massive valuations surpassing 16.7 trillion baht as of the end of the third quarter of 2023 and continuous prospective growth, is a crucial mechanism in the capital market and the Thai economy. Net market value could rise by over 386 million baht per year if legal restrictions on bond trading […]

Soft landing likely for this dragon year

The Year of the Dragon brings with it the expectation that the direction of the global economy will be better than that of 2023. Despite earlier concerns about a sharp global economic downturn, recent developments suggest a soft landing for 2024. The World Bank recently reported that global economic growth will be 2.4% this year, […]

Reconsidering unclaimed dividends

Every year, a significant amount of unclaimed stock dividends accumulates due to a loss of contact with some of the rightful owners. This amount is substantial. For example, unclaimed dividends at the Thailand Securities Depository (TSD) have grown to 746 million baht over 10 years. Similarly, asset management companies face this issue with mutual funds […]

Braving hurdles for green transport

‘Match your words with your actions.” That was the message from teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg when she sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2019 instead of flying to attend the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York. The symbolic journey took two weeks. More importantly, achieving it took a strong conviction and determination […]

Reforming the capital market landscape

The capital market plays a significant role in the country’s socio-economy. Not only does it serve as a funding source for the public and private sectors, but it can also help maintain balance in the financial system, which is a crucial mechanism for economic growth, job and income distribution and public saving. In light of the greater influence exerted by global economic processes, the capital market must also adapt and […]

Thailand’s green economy challenge

Climate concerns are reshaping the job market across the globe, leading to a rise in “green” jobs tailored for low-carbon economies. Success now hinges on adaptability to this new job landscape.           Thailand needs to act swiftly. As a country deeply woven into the global supply chain and reliant on exports and foreign investment, failing to […]

End monopoly for cheap, clean energy

If Thailand hopes to honour its global pledge to mitigate climate change by becoming carbon neutral by 2050, there is one way to do it — electricity liberalisation. The “why” is obvious. The power sector is the country’s biggest carbon offender, generating over 42% of the country’s carbon emissions. The big question is how? Switching […]

“Electricity liberalization, the way of leading the country towards clean, affordable, and equitable electricity”

Areeporn Asawinpongphan “In light of Thailand’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the power sector is considered the most crucial in supporting this goal. The continuous and high rate of electricity consumption in Thailand has led the electricity sector being the largest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. Apart from that, in the private sector, […]

Time for action on low birth rate crisis

While changes in the criteria determining who is eligible for the old-age allowance by the outgoing Prayut Chan-o-cha government caused a stir, the issue of a low birth rate – another important aspect of Thailand’s aged society – has not been discussed much.          The issue only gained short-lived public attention as Public Health Minister Dr […]

Transforming Thailand into a Low-Carbon Economy and Society

By Somkiat Tangkitvanich Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) 1. The Twin Climate Change Challenges Addressing global climate change is crucial for the survival of Thailand’s economy. This involves confronting challenges related to both reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide[1] (“mitigation”), and preparing for more severe climatic conditions (“adaptation”). For instance, mitigation efforts include transitioning […]

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