Showing 1 - 10 of 30
Rich get richer, poor get the picture
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 09/01/2020
» This year the new land and building tax law takes effect with the new tax regime hardly affecting ordinary people who do not own second homes. It rather effects super rich people who have owned land in amounts so vast that they would have to spend a good part of their life if they wanted to walk around every plot of their land.
Stimulus a band-aid for gaping wounds
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 28/11/2019
» Despite several "stimulus" measures launched by the government in the past year, the Thai economy is still being buffeted by the volatility of international trade. This year's growth projection has been adjusted to a level much lower than previous predictions due to a slowdown in exports, which account for 70% of the economy.
Public debt isn't always a bad thing
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 29/08/2019
» The global economic slowdown, as a result of the ongoing Sino-US trade tensions, has hit the Thai economy hard.
Good governance sorely lacking at state-run banks
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 25/07/2019
» During parliamentary debates on the Prayut Chan-o-cha government's policy statement, scheduled for tomorrow and Friday, the state-run Krung Thai Bank's (KTB) 9.9-billion-baht loan scandal will likely be taken up by the opposition targeting one cabinet member, Finance Minister and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Uttama Savanayana. When the loan was approved in 2003, Mr Uttama was an executive board member of the bank.
Welfare not a banquet, but a necessity
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 07/03/2019
» The ongoing election campaign is seeing all competing political parties make ambitious promises to turn Thailand into a welfare state to entice their prospective supporters.
Fiscal discipline can still save the day
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 03/05/2018
» Fiscal security is of the utmost importance. When the country faces an economic crisis, every government must resort to stimulus measures to reinvigorate the economy. At times, some make use of fiscal measures to narrow the socio-economic gap. Either way, much money is needed.
Infrastructure land windfall tax a letdown
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 15/03/2018
» A new tax law which will enable the Revenue Department to collect tax from land owners who are to benefit from transport infrastructure development projects is a novel idea by the Finance Ministry.
Gap between rich, poor fuels our woes
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 01/09/2017
» For decades, poverty and inequality have been chronic problems which have derailed Thailand's economic growth and fuelled political conflicts and unrest. These problems remain even though about a trillion baht has been collectively spent by many governments to address them. What have we missed or done wrong?
Corruption? You can bank on it
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 18/05/2017
» The huge loss of the state-owned Islamic Bank of Thailand (IBank) has raised questions as to how a bank that runs on principles of integrity could turn into a financial institution riddled with suspected graft in just over a decade.
Bill reins in populist 'mai pen rai' urges
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 27/04/2017
» While mai pen rai, a frequently used Thai expression for "never mind", "it's okay" or "don't worry", may represent the compromising nature of Thais, it also carries a negative connotation of our tendency to skip dealing with a problem or avoid fixing problems where it hurts.