Showing 1 - 10 of 22
Beware 'populist policy trap'
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 04/02/2014
» The government should abandon its non-welfare populist policies on the grounds that Thailand could fall further into the middle-income trap and face low productivity, says an economist.
Rice pledging: the human toll
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 16/02/2014
» The rice pledging scheme was at the heart of the Pheu Thai Party's populist platform that swept Yingluck Shinawatra to power in the 2011 general election. But it has left the country with record rice stockpiles and hundreds of billions of baht in losses at taxpayer cost while throwing farmers into debt after the caretaker government delayed making payments for pledged rice.
Former finance minister sees light at the end of the tunnel
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 08/04/2014
» Despite concerns that economic growth may nosedive in the wake of prolonged political turmoil, former finance minister and former Bank of Thailand deputy governor Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala believes the conflict will come to an end in the coming months, private investment and domestic consumption will rebound swiftly and economic growth could expand beyond 2.7%. Pathom Sangwongwanich talked to Mr Thirachai.
Appeal for budget watchdog
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 10/04/2014
» A Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) should be established as an independent organisation amid any political reform measures, as the country must plug loopholes that allow corruption, say academics.
Stunted growth on political uncertainty
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 13/05/2014
» Thailand's first-quarter GDP is likely to have shrunk by up to 2% from the previous quarter, as the political unrest has added more woe to already-waning domestic consumption and investment, economists say.
Somkid downplays US, EU criticism
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 25/06/2014
» Somkid Jatusripitak, foreign affairs adviser to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), is confident the US and EU will not impose harsh sanctions on Thailand if the country can show determination and integrity in resolving their concerns over human trafficking and democracy.
Superboard poised for battle
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 05/07/2014
» A state enterprise superboard set up by the junta will be ready to make its first policy-setting moves by the middle of next week, says Prasarn Trairatvorakul, a superboard member and the Bank of Thailand governor.
'Tainted' poll poses threat to confidence
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 16/08/2014
» Despite hopeful sentiment for a general election late next year, the results could dampen investment sentiment and foreign investor confidence if a party linked to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra triumphs, says Amar Gill, head of Asian research at the Hong Kong-based CLSA.
Competitiveness rises six notches to 31st place
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 04/09/2014
» Despite the political strife crippling the country's economy for almost five months through May, Thailand's competitiveness jumped six slots to 31st in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2014-15 thanks to improvements in the ranking of macroeconomic environment.
Thai CG ranking slips a notch
Business, Pathom Sangwongwanich, Published on 26/09/2014
» Despite maintaining its overall score on the back of improvements in regulatory enforcement, Thailand's corporate governance ranking has slipped one spot to fourth place after the domestic political impasse hindered legislative amendments to securities laws, says the Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA).