Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Agricultural price supports
Jon Fernquest, Published on 22/09/2010
» The Abhisit administration has put in place a true system of crop insurance and agricultural price supports. Payments to farmers used to be used as a system of "political booty" to gain voter support in elections.
Should Thailand strive to become a medical tourism hub?
Jon Fernquest, Published on 05/11/2010
» Medical tourism could draw doctors out of an already struggling public health care system and endanger its very existence.
Rice policy corruption
Jon Fernquest, Published on 29/06/2011
» Revival of past rice policy will create opportunities for middleman rice millers to profit, not the small farmers who need help.
Rice policy: Govt spending black hole?
Jon Fernquest, Published on 05/09/2011
» Will consumers pay for huge rice price subsidies, far above market prices? Will ignoring the market lead to a vicious cycle of government spending?
Rice scheme mostly helps rich
Jon Fernquest, Published on 23/09/2011
» Poor stuck buying more expensive rice. Rice exporters, millers, warehousers, richer farmers, the cronies of politicians, the ones who will really benefit.
"Free education" not really free
Jon Fernquest, Published on 17/02/2012
» Test scores & education quality falling. Lack of accountability the problem, not money, 20% of govt budget to education, more than ASEAN neighbors.
Rice policy mainly benefits rich people
Jon Fernquest, Published on 08/08/2012
» Poor farmers get 5% of govt rice program money, merchants & millers get 63%.
Talking is better than fighting
Jon Fernquest, Published on 04/01/2013
» Bangkok Post Person of Year award goes to TDRI research program to replace street protests & fights by well-reasoned research & debate.
Populist policies: Yingluck's worse than Thaksin
Jon Fernquest, Published on 31/05/2013
» First generation populist policies (universal healthcare, OTOP) better than second generation policies (rice pledging scheme, first car rebate).
Government brings trouble on itself
Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 21/06/2013
» Resentful farmers angered by the cutback in the rice pledging price have threatened to protest in various parts of the country, putting the government in the hot seat with the possibility it may have to backtrack to appease its major voter base.