Showing 1 - 10 of 17
Would more debt fix the economy?
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 17/05/2025
» A total of seven emergency loan decrees were issued from 1998 to 2021, authorising combined borrowings of 3.83 trillion baht to address various economic crises, including the Asian financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Incentives for farmers forgoing debt scheme
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 25/09/2023
» The Finance Ministry is planning to offer incentives to farmers choosing not to enter the debt suspension programme aimed at reducing the government's fiscal burden, according to a ministry source who requested anonymity.
New VAT mulled that targets luxury goods
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 26/09/2022
» The Finance Ministry is considering the introduction of a two-tier value-added tax (VAT) rate that could generate additional revenue of more than 100 billion baht, says a ministry source who requested anonymity.
Reform of EV duties urged
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 14/02/2022
» The Finance Ministry plans to propose to the cabinet a reduction of the import duty for electric vehicles (EVs) to 40%, 20% and zero percent, each depending on the engine size, says Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat.
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).
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.
TDRI urges higher VAT to solve disparity
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 15/12/2018
» The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has proposed that the government raise the value-added tax (VAT) to finance welfare and subsidy schemes for the poor after finding that current outlays are insufficient to address income disparity.
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 budget close to legal limit
Business, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 14/08/2018
» Little room remains in the budget for the government to spend further on populist policies through state-owned financial institutions, as populist spending is nearing the cap of 30% of the annual budget, says an informed source at the Finance Ministry.