Thailand and its development potentials: challenges to address

Thailand, a developing and upper-middle income country with a per capita GDP of more than 6500 US dollars, has huge development potentials. While Thailand has experienced rapid economic growth and improved living standards, it has the potential to foster a competitive and innovative economy, leverage its strong digital economy, strengthen human capital, foster a robust tourism sector and improve political grounds that can provide more facilities to its people. Tourism is a key driver of economic growth and has the potential for further expansion through the development of secondary cities. But amongst the others, Thailand— a Southeast Asian country— has the potential for manufacturing, particularly in the automotive and electronics sectors, ensuring sustainable development and providing increased opportunities for all its citizens.

But there are economic, political and other development challenges to Thailand, one of the nations that has never been colonized by a European power and has a vibrant culture and rich history. High household debt, declining private investment, infrastructural gaps (despite several promising infrastructural projects including the Eastern Economic Corridor), widening income inequality and hidden unemployment pose notable challenges to development in Thailand, which has a sluggish economic recovery from the pandemic (despite its rapid economic development). 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. Thailand also grapples with environmental degradation and climate change impacts, despite its improvement in tolerance to natural events.

Photo credit: https://edition.cnn.com/.

But there are also some other challenges to Thailand, where the military has ruled for most of the period since 1947. There are some forms of restrictions on political assembly, concerns about political interference in the judiciary, impunity for state-sponsored abuses, concerns about arbitrary arrest and detention and some sorts of restrictions on freedom of expression. Restrictions on freedom of expression — though Thailand generally has media freedom — due to various reasons including a strict lese majeste law that prohibits reporting anything deemed critical of the royal family have led to self-censorship among media persons on various issues including the monarchs and the judiciary. Amongst the others, there are concerns regarding the treatment of refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers in Thailand. 

Though the policy-driven and other efforts of different Thai governments including the 20-year national strategy (2018-2037), the digital government development plan (2017-2021) and a digital wallet scheme, social welfare programs and initiatives to reduce energy costs have provided short-term solutions and long-term structural reforms, addressed different development challenges and facilitated economic, infrastructural and other developments, there are various limitations to the efforts, leading to their 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.

Photo credit: https://www.bangkokpost.com/.

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 has helped largely improve the political ground for political parties and people facilitating human development. 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 provincial areas of Thailand. Amongst the others, the focus of the Thai government is also given less on addressing the patronage system that hinders good governance, the weaknesses in the rule of law and human rights violations. 

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 among people, strengthening institutions including political, 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 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 its citizens. Thailand also needs to improve its treatment of refugees and address border disputes with Cambodia.