Showing 1 - 10 of 18
Thai economic revival at stake in poll
Oped, Pavida Pananond, Published on 11/05/2023
» As voters go to the poll this Sunday, everything that matters for the people of this country is on the line, from structural reforms of political institutions and a constitutional rewrite to welfare policies to address income inequality.
Oligarchical market control isn't healthy
Oped, Pavida Pananond, Published on 02/12/2022
» On the face of it, the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha seems to be saying the right things about sustainable and inclusive growth. The prime minister himself has been touting a Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model for Thailand, pitching it as the overarching theme of the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting. Yet, the political economy hidden underneath Gen Prayut's lofty rhetoric is becoming more short-term and exclusive, allowing wealth to be concentrated in fewer hands, giving a handful of conglomerates oligarchical control over the market.
Mega-merger risks Thai digital future
Oped, Pavida Pananond, Published on 26/11/2021
» The Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group is on the move again to swell further in size, weight and power over the market. Having recently acquired Tesco's operations when the British retailer sold out and exited Thailand and Malaysia, CP is now aiming to consolidate its grip on the telecommunications industry in a planned merger between its True Corporation and Total Access Communications (DTAC), the local subsidiary of Norway's Telenor. If successful, the merger would reduce Thailand's major telecom players from three to two and further concentrate market dominance over the telecom market to the detriment of consumer choice and welfare.
Transparency essential for reopening
Oped, Pavida Pananond & Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 01/10/2021
» As the reopening of the economy has become imperative, living with the Covid-19 pandemic has become a reality. But the balance between risks and opportunities must be calibrated with transparency and accountability. As Thailand's Covid numbers seem to be more than meets the eye, the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has the responsibility to keep the public squarely informed. While moving on alongside Covid is unavoidable, the public needs to know that Thailand's virtual strategy now is to rely on vaccinations and immunity from catching the virus itself as infections and fatalities will rise.
Govt's shambolic jabs plan is 'un-Thai'
Oped, Pavida Pananond and Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 07/05/2021
» The government's planned procurement and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines has become a saga that keeps circulating in news headlines. For much of last year, Thailand was lauded worldwide for its ability to contain the Covid-19 virus. But as the coronavirus pandemic increasingly moves from the virus stage to vaccine procurement and mass inoculation, Thailand faces a double whammy with a virus surge and vaccine scarcity. Unless the government changes course quickly, it risks gambling national health and local lives for what looks like a shambolic vaccine strategy.
Minimising risks of vaccine inequality
Oped, Pavida Pananond, Published on 22/04/2021
» That Thailand is in the midst of a fast-spreading third wave of Covid-19 infections while public vaccine procurement and rollout remain uncertain is indisputable, despite the government's reassurances otherwise.
Short-sighted Thai vaccine plans
Oped, Pavida Pananond and Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 02/04/2021
» In a rush to reopen its economy and hard-hit tourism industry after more than a year of Covid-19 doldrums, Thailand has come up with misguided priorities in vaccine allocation and distribution. As vaccine rollouts in other countries appear structured and methodical based on objective criteria, Thailand's early approach is decidedly subjective and arbitrary in favour of economic interests over public health risks. Unless this direction is corrected and rebalanced, the risks to public health will mount and could end up undermining the economic recovery.
RCEP shores up trade, value chains
Oped, Pavida Pananond and Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 20/11/2020
» Although it is far from the best outcome in trade liberalisation, the finalisation of the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) among economies of Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, along with Australia and New Zealand, has highlighted and even salvaged Asean's adverse pandemic year.
Promotions pose test for Thai lecturers
Oped, Pavida Pananond & Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 14/08/2020
» Thailand is undergoing an unprecedented bottom-up revolt against an entrenched top-down socio-political system. The ongoing youth movement and its campus protests are leading the charge against the shortcomings, flaws and abuses of Thailand's major institutions from the military and police to the judiciary and parliament whose one third in the Senate were chosen by a military junta. Academia is no exception. Although it is supposed to be a bastion of integrity and intellect, research and knowledge, Thai academia suffers from the same top-down hierarchy and stifling power relations that are undermining the country's institutions.
Thailand needs Pacific trade treaty
Oped, Pavida Pananond & Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 01/05/2020
» Here we go again. As if nothing has changed over the past two decades, the government of the day has once again botched and bungled Thailand's trade policy by riding roughshod over civil society groups and the public at large. The unceremonious withdrawal of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership from cabinet deliberations earlier this week was regrettable and unnecessary. Because of adverse geopolitical and geo-economic trends on the horizon, Thailand needs to consider joining the CPTPP. But it has to do so the hard way, with public participation, bargaining and negotiations among domestic interest groups to reach a consensus.