I found an article from the Bangkok Post that discusses this topic. According to the article, Thailand’s economy is suffering from widening inequality, with the proportion of poor people still hovering at 6-8% of the total, particularly in the agricultural sector. The latest study conducted by the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), the Commerce Ministry’s planning unit, also found factors such as the transition to a digital economy, an ageing society, the pace of the economic recovery after Covid-19, and climate change all contributing to rising inequality1.
Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the TPSO, said that despite Thailand’s continuous economic growth, with GDP increasing from 7.7 trillion baht in 2008 to 10.2 trillion baht in 2021, economic inequality persists and is a significant concern that both government and private organisations would need to collaborate on in order to reduce it and ensure the sustainable development of Thailand’s society and economy, aligning with the United Nations’ (UN) sustainable development goals1.
Below is the reference:
Arunmas, P. (2023, June 27). Thailand’s inequality remains entrenched. Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2599963/thailands-inequality-remains-entrenched
Here are some key takeaways:
The proportion of poor people in Thailand is still hovering at 6-8% of the total, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Thailand’s GDP increased from 7.7 trillion baht in 2008 to 10.2 trillion baht in 2021.
The proportion of people living in poverty has decreased from 65% in 1988 to only 6.3% in 2021.
More than 11% of households with a primary income from agriculture are still below the poverty line, defined as income of 2,802 baht per month per person.
What do we know about the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TOSO) under Thailand's Ministry of Commerce
The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) is a planning unit under Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce. It is responsible for implementing trade policies and regulations in Thailand1. The TPSO conducts studies and analyses on trade-related issues, such as the impact of the transition to a digital economy, an ageing society, the pace of economic recovery after Covid-19, and climate change on economic inequality in Thailand2.
In Thailand, the term ‘grassroots’ [rak ya] is defined as ‘the majority of people in the country who live in poverty and lack social opportunities’1.
According to the Asian Development Bank, 6.3% of the population in Thailand lived below the national poverty line in 20212. The Thai People Map and Analytics Platform (TPMAP) defines “targeted poor” as those who are registered as state-welfare cardholders and prioritized for assistance by the government[3].
The proportion of poor people in Thailand is still hovering at 6-8% of the total, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Thailand’s GDP increased from 7.7 trillion baht in 2008 to 10.2 trillion baht in 2021.
The proportion of people living in poverty has decreased from 65% in 1988 to only 6.3% in 2021.
More than 11% of households with a primary income from agriculture are still below the poverty line, defined as income of 2,802 baht per month per person.
The statistics you mentioned point to the fact that despite the overall growth in Thailand’s GDP and the decrease in the proportion of people living in poverty, there is still a significant proportion of the population, particularly in the agricultural sector, that is living below the poverty line. This suggests that the benefits of economic growth have not been evenly distributed and that there are still significant disparities in income and opportunities between different sectors of society. This can contribute to inequality in Thailand.
There are several factors that contribute to inequality in Thailand. According to a World Bank report, poverty has increased in Thailand twice in recent years, in 2016 and 2018, due to a combination of economic and environmental conditions. Thailand’s growth rate has been lower than other large economies in the developing East Asia and Pacific region, and trade and economic growth have weakened globally, affecting exports. Droughts have affected the livelihoods of farmers who are already typically the poorest, and tourism has experienced declines. Real farm and business incomes declined in rural and urban households, respectively, and wage income also declined in urban households1.
Inequality is also considered to be the root cause of many structural problems in Thai society, including the lack of social and political stability, low quality of democracy, flesh trade and human trafficking, crime, and corruption2. Inequality can manifest in many forms, including geographical disparity and social exclusion of marginalized people such as the stateless, migrant and domestic workers3.
The Asia Foundation. (2019, June 19). A Common Challenge: Geography and Inequality in Thailand and America. https://asiafoundation.org/2019/06/19/a-common-challenge-geography-and-inequality-in-thailand-and-america/
World Bank. (2020, March 5). Taking the Pulse of Poverty and Inequality in Thailand. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/thailand/publication/taking-the-pulse-of-poverty-and-inequality-in-thailand
Jitsuchon, S. (2020, January 22). Thai inequality: What we should know. Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1840739/thai-inequality-what-we-should-know
Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the TPSO, said that despite Thailand's continuous economic growth, with GDP increasing from 7.7 trillion baht in 2008 to 10.2 trillion baht in 2021, economic inequality persists and is a significant concern that both government and private organisations would need to collaborate on in order to reduce it and ensure the sustainable development of Thailand's society and economy, aligning with the United Nations' (UN) sustainable development goals.
Source:https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2599963/thailands-inequality-remains-entrenched. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip