Showing 1 - 10 of 209
BAAC union queries lending capacity
Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 18/04/2024
» The labour union of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is seeking legal opinions about whether the government can borrow from the state-owned bank to support its costly digital wallet handout.
Source: Rice pledging debt halved
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 29/07/2020
» The debt burden from the rice pledging scheme during Yingluck Shinawatra's government has declined by more than half, says the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).
BAAC predicts Democrat farmer policy adoption
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 20/06/2019
» The state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) expects the new government to adopt a farmers' minimum income guarantee as promised by the Democrat Party, which is tipped to fill the agriculture minister's seat.
Poverty is not a political commodity
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 14/02/2019
» As the election is drawing near, most if not all political parties are making eradicating poverty and closing the economic gap their flagship policy, rolling out enticing populist programmes in the hope of winning the hearts and minds of voters.
Finance minister airs 2019 concerns
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 03/01/2019
» Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong sees interest rate hikes, capital mobility and political stability after the general election as economic concerns for 2019.
Rethinking our attitude towards populism
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 06/12/2018
» The new package intended for the poor, valued at 38 billion baht issued by the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration ahead of the election, is seen by critics as a populist tactic aimed at maximising political gain. Yet in my opinion, it's time we took a new look or changed our attitude toward populist policies. The fact is that all governments, elected or not, tend to embrace populism and even though some packages may not benefit the middle class, populist policies are just inevitable.
Populist policies hold farmers back
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 26/07/2018
» The launch of several populist projects by the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, especially those targeting poor farmers ahead of the election planned for early next year, are seen as a thinly disguised ploy to canvas support from prospective voters.
Time for new chapter in tackling poverty
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 14/06/2018
» Over the past years the government has boasted of numerous economic advances, including an increase in GDP figures. Yet this does not necessarily bode well for its plan to tackle poverty. In fact, these achievements have exacerbated economic inequality, with farmers now marginalised at the bottom of the social spectrum.
Still room to spend after populist cap
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 04/06/2018
» Some 10% of this year's budget is still available for the government to spend on populist policies after the Fiscal Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, capped payment liabilities incurred from pork barrel spending at 30% of annual budget expenditure.
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.