Thailand, a developing and upper-middle income country with a per capita GDP of more than 6500 US dollars, has huge development potentials. It has experienced rapid economic growth and improved living standards for its people. It has the potential to foster a competitive and innovative economy, leveraging its strong digital economy, strengthening human capital, fostering a robust tourism sector and improving political grounds. Tourism remains a key driver of economic growth, with potential for further expansion through the development of secondary cities and diversifying tourism products that can provide more facilities to its people. Amongst the others, Thailand— a South East Asian country— has the potential for ensuring sustainable development and providing increased opportunities for all its citizens.
But there are economic, political and other development challenges to Thailand, a Southeast Asian nation which has never been colonized by a European power and has a vibrant culture and rich history. Thailand has a sluggish economic recovery (despite its rapid economic development), high household debt, declining private investment, infrastructural gaps (despite several promising infrastructural projects including the Eastern Economic Corridor), widening income inequality and hidden unemployment that pose challenges to its development. But inefficient public spending on social and other development sectors and gaps in accountability and transparency in government institutions hinder effective governance and development for all groups of people in Thailand. The country also grapples with environmental degradation and climate change impacts, despite its improved tolerance to natural events.
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But there are some other challenges to Thailand, where the military has ruled for most of the period since 1947. There are some forms of restrictions on freedom of expression — though it generally has media freedom — due to a strict lese majeste law that prohibits media from reporting anything that could be deemed critical of the royal family and political assembly as well as concerns about arbitrary arrest and detention, political interference in the judiciary and impunity for state-sponsored abuses. Pertinently saying, media persons tend to exercise self-censorship regarding the judiciary and several other issues. Amongst the others, human rights violations persist in different areas and there are concerns regarding the treatment of refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers in Thailand.Â
Though the policy-driven and other efforts of the Thai government that reflect short-term stimulus measures and long-term structural reforms including Thailand 4.0, the 20-Year National Strategy, the Digital Government Development Plan, a digital wallet scheme, social welfare programs and initiatives to reduce energy costs have helped address development challenges and facilitated economic, infrastructural and other developments, there are different limitations to the efforts, leading to limited outcomes. There are policy disagreements, inadequate allocation to different sectors due to funding limitations, weaknesses in human capital development and the lack of focus in all provincial areas. While Bangkok and other major urban centers have benefited from infrastructure development, many rural areas lack adequate infrastructure, contributing to economic and social inequality.
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But there are also many other loopholes in the government efforts in Thailand — the nation where absolute monarchy gave way to a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government in 1932 which helped improve the political ground for political parties and people to a larger extent. Efforts have been made less to address limitations in political processes and failures to address economic inequalities and ensure equal access to justice and protection from discrimination in different areas of Thailand, which was mostly ruled by the military. The focus of the Thai government is less on addressing the patronage system that hinders good governance, the weaknesses in the rule of law and human rights violations.Â
But addressing the challenges to development and concerns in Thailand is vital. Along with addressing various economic development challenges including a decline in investment and diversifying the economy, addressing financial inequality, strengthening institutions, promoting transparency and accountability in government institutions and fostering citizen participation will be helpful. Increased collaborations with other countries and international organizations can help improve economic conditions and address financial challenges. Promoting development in secondary cities will help improve different areas and provide opportunities to many. But ensuring equal opportunity and social justice is also vital in Thailand.
But the government of Thailand also needs to address other concerns including human rights concerns. Thailand needs to provide more freedom of political assembly especially of the opposition and freedom of expression and to end arbitrary arrests and detention, especially during peaceful protests and political rallies. Promoting human rights will be helpful for the long-term progress of Thailand and the development of citizens. Addressing the border dispute with Cambodia is also vital.
