Showing 1 - 10 of 20
Political instability adds to viral woes
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 05/03/2020
» The economy weakened last year thanks to the Sino-US trade war. This year, its health could worsen further due to two emerging factors. One is the Covid-19 outbreak which has hit the country's tourism industry hard. Another is potential political turmoil signalled by a series of "flash mobs" of students which gathered after the Constitutional Court's ruling to dissolve the Future Forward Party (FFP). If the rallies continue unabated, this year's growth could be worse than analysts predict.
Finance Ministry scraps travel cash for tourists
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 27/04/2019
» The Finance Ministry has scrapped a plan to hand out travel allowances in cash worth 1,500 baht each to about 10 million people for travelling in any of 55 second-tier provinces, part of a scheme to promote domestic tourism in areas not regularly visited be them.
Instability threatens economic growth
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 27/04/2019
» Without decisive winners from the March 24 poll, there are fears that political instability will affect the country's economy. Such concerns are understandable given that three parties, namely the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party, and Pheu Thai Party and Future Forward Party (which brand themselves as the anti-regime camp), are engaging in a post-election tug of war.
Wealth gap still endangers democracy
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 24/05/2018
» Time flies. This week marks the fourth year of the military regime under Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha taking power after it ousted the civilian government in a coup in 2014. It's hard to imagine the military could ever have made a comeback to politics after the 1992 uprising when the men in green were forced to go back to the barracks, never mind managing to stay this long.
Climbing the ladder of Thai banking
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 21/04/2018
» Chatchai Payuhanaveechai once saw his career in the banking industry as a path to follow in his parent's footsteps and become a retail merchant, but he's not only remained a banker for more than three decades -- he also managed to climb to the top post at state-owned Government Savings Bank (GSB).
EEC needs political will to succeed
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 25/01/2018
» The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a project that will strengthen not only the country's economic performance but also its competitiveness, is making rapid progress, which is commendable.
PM must put friendship aside in graft fight
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 14/12/2017
» The high-profile scandal featuring a flashy watch and diamond ring worn by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon poses a dilemma for the military regime which came to power in 2014 when the country was in the political doldrums, with the public losing its faith in elected politicians.
Reform, reform, reform: 3 gates to growth
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 10/08/2017
» Thailand's economic growth has been bogged down in the past decade by political instability. Since the 2014 coup, the military government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has managed to stabilise the political climate. But uncertainty prevails when it comes to the country's political future.
New property tax bill offers chance to narrow income gap
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 20/07/2017
» What level of wealth should make homeowners liable to the new tax structure? This is a question that members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) committee vetting a bill on the new land and building tax has been debating.
Council of State challenges two-year payback mandate
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 18/04/2017
» The Council of State has proposed loosening the requirement of a two-year payback for government when it borrows to finance any populist policy, aiming to keep subsequent administrations from running out of resources for investment if the fiscal budget is constrained.