Showing 1 - 10 of 172
Can economy weather Covid-19 storm?
News, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 27/02/2020
» As of Wednesday, there were 80,991 confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus known as Covid-19, spread across 41 countries and territories. But explaining health issues is not the purpose of this article. I will leave that to medical and infection experts. The purpose here is to determine the economic impacts of the spread of Covid-19, particularly on the Thai economy.
Virus plus oil crisis spells recession
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 12/03/2020
» All economists, including myself, predict the spread of Covid-19 will put a big brake on economic growth through reductions in spending, particularly on travel. Assuming the virus outbreak lasts for about six months, the lower spending will likely last until the fourth quarter. Countries like Thailand, which depend heavily on foreign tourist revenue, will be hurt the most.
Govt has shallow pockets for virus fight
News, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 26/03/2020
» There is no need to say that the impact from Covid-19 has been brutal to all economies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just warned the world economy is most likely to enter recession in 2020 with negative economic growth. On Jan 9, the IMF released its World Economic Outlook report projecting that global economic growth would be a positive 3.3%.
Covid-19 stimulus may sink economy
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 09/04/2020
» It is undeniable the Covid-19 outbreak is wreaking havoc on economies worldwide. To lessen the pain on their citizens and prevent economic free-fall into the recession trap, most governments are rolling out stimulus packages, typically consisting of cash handouts, wage compensation and concessional loans.
Lockdown pain worse than virus?
News, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 23/04/2020
» You have seen it in the news - strings of protests against the Covid-19 lockdowns of cities and countries around the world. Protests ran the gamut from 20 states in the US, to Brazil, India and as far away as Lebanon. To protesters, economic pain is more real than the death threat from the virus. Are these people unreasonable? How could livelihoods be more important than lives?
It's time to face grim Covid-19 reality
News, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 07/05/2020
» At the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, there emerged an outbreak containment option called "Hurt and then ending" which in Thai is jeb tae jop. The complete lockdown of Wuhan was a prime example of that. In Thailand, the lockdown measure was first implemented in Buri Ram before it become a standard practice nationwide. The effectiveness of the measures varies across the globe -- from a seemingly complete success story in Wuhan to a not-yet sustained success in Spain, to a success and then failure in Singapore. I do not think anybody doubts the effectiveness of the lockdown on controlling the outbreak, but many, including myself, are starting to come out and question the cost of lockdown, which I have previously mentioned.
Homework for the new bank governor
News, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 04/06/2020
» The term of the governor of the Bank of Thailand will expire on Sept 30 and as incumbent governor Veerathai Santiprabhob has announced he will not seek a second term citing family reasons, the selection process for his replacement has begun.
THAI restructuring will not be easy
News, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 18/06/2020
» While I was the head of the Corporate Finance Department at National Finance (now known as Thanachart Bank), I handled many cases of debt restructuring. The largest one was the 20-billion-baht debt of a hospital chain.
The economy is sick and pills won't do
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 02/07/2020
» Picture this: Your name is "Mr Thai Economy", and you have contracted the coronavirus in late January. After a close examination in March, doctors (the Bank of Thailand) said your health is of deep concern as GDP growth could go as low as -5.3%.
This could get worse before it improves
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 16/07/2020
» This is not the first time the world has faced economic dangers but the Covid-19 outbreak is by far the most devastating. I have a feeling that it could beat the legendary 1930s Great Depression. There are many questions to ask, particularly about the future of the world and the Thai economy. I'd like to raise three questions as follows: