Showing 1 - 10 of 29
Can the 30-baht health scheme survive?
Oped, Published on 19/06/2025
» I recently met Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, secretary-general of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), at the home of a mutual friend to ask questions, of which I had many, about the so-called 30-baht scheme -- also known as the "gold card" scheme.
Shape of new climate politics emerges
News, Published on 07/06/2025
» Only a few months ago, a headline like "United States sets tariffs of up to 3,521% on solar panels from Southeast Asia" could have been dismissed as satire. Today, it's nothing special, one of many published amid an uninterrupted fusillade accompanying Donald Trump's first 100 days in power. Yet it's also part of something bigger, as axes of economic power shift, technological changes surge, and popular sentiments reconfigure and metastasise. Amid that fracturing world order, how should we consider the climate crisis?
Behaviour shift key to ending plastic use
News, Published on 12/05/2025
» Southeast Asia is no stranger to the plastic crisis. Despite growing awareness and countless"reduce, reuse, recycle" campaigns, single-use plastic consumption remains stubbornly high.
Govt toys with risky roll of the dice
Editorial, Published on 20/04/2025
» As protests against the proposed entertainment complex legislation -- commonly known as the "casino bill" -- gather steam, its sponsor, the Pheu Thai Party, would be naive to assume the problem lies merely in communication.
Ability to pay key to debt restructuring
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 03/04/2025
» Last week's earthquake has provided Thais with two valuable lessons. First, Thailand has no national disaster management plan. No government agency seems to have had carefully thought-out plans and procedures to manage the situation. All measures were carried out on an ad-hoc basis. Worse, there appears to be no coordination among various agencies. Thais were left to rely on their own two feet as thousands of Bangkokians had no choice but to walk for hours to their homes when the mass transit railways were shutdown.
Which way for MotoGP?
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/03/2025
» It is music to the ears as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vows that she will put politics aside and think business in deciding whether to renew a contract to host the MotoGP.
It was the Year of the Happy Hippo
Roger Crutchley, Published on 29/12/2024
» Well, we've just about scraped through 2024 although there have been dodgy moments. Most of us will probably be happy to see the back of the Year of the Dragon.
Household debt plan has many flaws
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 28/11/2024
» It is unanimously agreed that household debt is one of the major economic problems of Thailand. Non-performing loans (NPL) from household debt amount to 1.2 trillion baht according to the National Credit Bureau (NCB). If it includes Special Mentioned (SM) debt (31-90 days of default), the bad debt level would rise to 1.7 trillion baht, or about 12.3% of total household debt outstanding.
Regional antidotes to counter Trump
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/11/2024
» The return of Donald Trump -- now US President-elect, is one of the biggest global shocks. Almost every country is worried about what will happen with the world and economy with the return of Mr Trump's style of protectionism -- this time on steroids. Or, to put it simply, will it be either an "Armageddon" of global instability or a flurry of self-serving deal-making?
Debt bailout warning
News, Editorial, Published on 25/11/2024
» The Paetongtarn government has announced a bold policy to address Thailand's mounting household debt crisis. The initiative includes a three-year suspension of interest payments for mortgages, vehicle loans and loans for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), among other items.