Summary Reforming Thailand: a dual challenge - TDRI: Thailand Development Research Institute tdri.or.th
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One Line
In order to regain competitiveness, Thailand needs to tackle issues such as aging leaders, outdated laws, lack of political will, and bureaucratic inertia.
Slides
Slide Presentation (10 slides)
Key Points
- Ageing leaders and outdated laws are hindrances to Thailand's competitiveness in the global economy.
- The power monopoly held by old leaders may contribute to Thailand's economic decline.
- The average age of leaders in Thailand is higher than in countries like Singapore.
- Outdated laws in Thailand, such as the anti-gambling law and the tourism law, are preventing business growth and hindering adaptation to new technologies.
- Thailand needs to overhaul and modernize its laws through regulatory reform to catch up with the times.
- The 20-year national strategy limits Thailand's ability to adapt to global change and is produced by policymakers at an advanced age.
- Addressing the roadblocks caused by elderly political elites and outdated laws is crucial for Thailand to regain competitiveness in the global economy.
Summaries
17 word summary
Thailand must address aging leaders, outdated laws, lack of political will, and bureaucratic inertia to regain competitiveness.
59 word summary
Thailand faces a dual challenge in reforming and remaining competitive globally. Aging leaders and outdated laws hinder progress. To overcome this, inclusivity in policymaking and comprehensive legal system reform are needed. However, progress is slow due to lack of political will and bureaucratic inertia. The 20-year national strategy also limits adaptability. Thailand must address these challenges to regain competitiveness.
147 word summary
Thailand is facing a dual challenge in reforming and remaining competitive in the global economy. The first challenge is the presence of aging leaders who may not have the necessary experience to address future challenges. This has led to a decline in Thailand's global competitiveness, particularly in digital competitiveness. The second challenge lies in outdated laws that hinder the progress of the Thai economy. Many laws are obsolete and fail to keep up with the fast-paced global economy. To overcome these challenges, Thailand needs to address the issue of aging leaders and outdated laws. This requires promoting inclusivity in policymaking and undertaking a comprehensive reform of the legal system. However, progress is slow due to a lack of political will and bureaucratic inertia. The 20-year national strategy also limits Thailand's ability to adapt to global changes. To regain competitiveness, Thailand must address these challenges and promote reform.
395 word summary
Thailand is facing a dual challenge in its reform efforts and competitiveness in the global economy. The first challenge is the presence of aging leaders who control the decision-making process. Despite their valuable experience, their past experience may not be sufficient to address future challenges. Thailand's ranking in global competitiveness has declined due to older leaders making national policies, reflecting declining efficiency in both businesses and the government. In terms of digital competitiveness, Thailand performed poorly and ranked lower than neighboring countries.
The second challenge lies in outdated laws that hinder the progress of the Thai economy. Many laws are obsolete and fail to keep pace with the fast-paced global economy. For instance, the anti-gambling law is 60 years old and cannot effectively combat online gambling. The law on the swallow nest business also prevents new operators from raising swallows in buildings due to violations of old building codes and regulations. Additionally, the current tourism law does not cover new forms of accommodation, leaving small hotel owners ineligible for state subsidies during the pandemic. Moreover, many existing laws do not support modern technologies or the digital economy.
To overcome these challenges, Thailand must address the issue of aging leaders and outdated laws. The cabinet, predominantly male, has an average age of 65 compared to Singapore's average cabinet age of 59. Younger MPs in the Move Forward Party have been making timely policies, but there is a need to stop age bias in state policymaking and ensure inclusivity in the policy-making process.
To reform outdated laws, Thailand should undertake a comprehensive reform of the legal system. This includes removing obsolete laws, revising existing laws, keeping what works, and creating new ones to support new technologies. However, progress in Thailand is slow due to a lack of political will and bureaucratic inertia.
Another obstacle to reform is the 20-year national strategy (2017-2036), which limits Thailand's ability to adapt to global changes. This strategy was produced by policymakers with an average age of 66.9, further highlighting the need for rejuvenation and fresh perspectives.
In conclusion, Thailand's reform efforts are hindered by aging leaders and outdated laws. To regain competitiveness in the global economy, Thailand must address these challenges by promoting inclusivity in policymaking, reforming the legal system, and removing obstacles that limit adaptation to global changes. Failure to do so may result in further decline for the country.
489 word summary
Thailand is facing a dual challenge in its efforts to reform and gain competitiveness in the global economy. The first challenge is the presence of aging leaders who control the decision-making process. While older leaders bring valuable experience, their past experience may not be enough to tackle future challenges. The median age of the Thai population is just 38.8, indicating that the country should have a vibrant and fast-moving economy. However, with people in their 60s and 70s making national policies, Thailand's ranking in global competitiveness has dropped, reflecting declining efficiency in both businesses and the government. In terms of digital competitiveness, Thailand performed poorly and ranked lower than neighboring countries.
The second challenge lies in outdated laws that hinder the progress of the Thai economy. Many laws are obsolete and fail to keep pace with the fast-paced global economy. For example, the anti-gambling law is 60 years old and cannot combat online gambling effectively. The law on the swallow nest business is also outdated, preventing new operators from raising swallows in buildings due to violations of old building codes and regulations. The current tourism law does not cover new forms of accommodation, such as tents and Airbnb rentals, leaving small hotel owners ineligible for state subsidies during the pandemic. Additionally, many existing laws do not support modern technologies or the digital economy.
To overcome these challenges, Thailand needs to address the issue of aging leaders and outdated laws. The cabinet, predominantly male, has an average age of 65 compared to Singapore's average cabinet age of 59. The appointed Senate and independent public organizations also have older members, which may be due to recruitment bias and the absence of elections. Younger MPs in the Move Forward Party have been making timely policies, but overall, there is a need to stop age bias in state policymaking and ensure inclusivity in the policy-making process.
To reform outdated laws, Thailand should undertake a comprehensive reform of the legal system. This includes removing obsolete laws, combining redundant legal services into a one-stop service, revising existing laws, keeping what works, and creating new ones to support new technologies. This process, known as a regulatory guillotine, has been successfully implemented in countries like South Korea and Vietnam, resulting in economic growth and job creation. However, progress in Thailand is slow due to a lack of political will and bureaucratic inertia.
Another obstacle to reform is the 20-year national strategy (2017-2036), which limits Thailand's ability to adapt to global changes. This strategy was produced by policymakers with an average age of 66.9, further highlighting the need for rejuvenation and fresh perspectives.
In conclusion, Thailand's reform efforts are hindered by aging leaders and outdated laws. To regain competitiveness in the global economy, Thailand must address these challenges by promoting inclusivity in policymaking, reforming the legal system, and removing obstacles that limit adaptation to global changes. Failure to do so may result in further decline for the country.