Asia brief 2040

This short paper is based on five individual Country Briefs 2040 produced by research teams from the nations that participated in the project: China, India, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as on a discussion of key issues that took place at the Asian Regional NTA Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand in September 2012, where the country briefs were presented (1). This paper summarizes and highlights the common and cross-country policy issues related to the future social protection measures, with a focus on the elderly

The labor supply of Thailand : an empirical analysis of the determinants of participation rates

Typescript.Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1976.Bibliography: leaves 126-135.Microfiche.ix, 135 leaves illThis study analyzes the variation in labor force participation rates of several age-sex groups of the Thai population in 1970 in terms of an econometric model incorporating economic as well as demographic variables. The study is a cross-sectional one based mainly on census data for 71 provinces of Thailand. The econometric model incorporates eclectic theories of labor supply with human capital theory as well as economic/demographic theory. It consists of three structural equations and an identity equation reflecting the joint dependency among activity rates, wage rates, and family income. In the participation rate equation, age-sex specific activity rates are functions of wage rates, family income, unemployment rates, industrialization, education, population-density, and family size. Parameters of the model are estimated by two-stage least squares technique. The results of the statistical estimation are generally consistent with the underlying theoretical concepts. The participation rates of prime-age males were found less sensitive to socioeconomic variations compared to those of other groups of the population. The effect of the wage variable is positive and significant for females of every age group, but it was negative and not significant for males of every age group except the 20-29 age group (where it was negative and significant). The coefficients of the family income variable are negative and significant for females of all ages and young men (aged 11-19). The income effect is positive and significant for males aged 40 and above. Unemployment rates were found to have negative effects upon most workers except for young women aged 11 to 14 whose coefficient is insignificant statistically. In terms of elasticity participation rates are generally less sensitive to the unemployment rates than to family income and wage rates. Education has a relatively large positive effect on participation rates of the young of both sexes while it has a large negative effect on participation rates of women 40 to 59 years of age. A milder positive effect of education occurs in females aged 20-39. The coefficient of industrialization which captures the effects of difference in economic structure, rural-urban residence, and occupational composition among areas is positive for secondary workers. Family size is positively associated with participation rates of the young aged 11-19 and women aged 40 to 60 and above. Final1y population density was found negatively related to participation rates of secondary workers and positively related to participation rates of primary workers. In conclusion, this study can serve as a guide to the effects of various variables on different measures of labor supply. Provided the parameters of the model remained constant, a planner could use the model to test the effects of various manpower policies of labor supply if he could deduce how a policy change would affect the variables in the model

Strategic leadership domains for Rajabhat University autonomy

Thesis (D.Ed.)--University of Melbourne, Faculty of Education, 2003This study sought to investigate essential elements for Rajabhat Institutes' transformation to higher educational autonomy as indicated by the literature survey. The first set of elements is the different areas of autonomy that Rajabhat Institutes should work toward, and the second is the strategic leadership domains that will facilitate the transformation process. Twenty respondents were formed as a subject group for the interview. The analysis was performed and the results were adapted and employed as per the content of the subsequent questionnaire. Next, the questionnaire was administered to one hundred and sixty Rajabhat personnel purposively selected from administrators and lecturers. The questionnaire using a 5- point Likert response and a ranking format determined the autonomy areas, strategic leadership domains and the level of significance of the strategic leadership domains on the autonomy areas. Statistical analysis of the questionnaire revealed that there were six autonomy areas that Rajabhats should focus their attention on for their successful transformation: academic affairs, administration and governance, personnel management, finance and budget, organisational development and quality assurance respectively. The strategic leadership domain prioritisation were proposed: vision and mission, teamwork, participation, resources, motivation, empowerment, communication and monitoring and assessment. In addition, the study also investigated the level of significance of strategic leadership domains on each autonomy area. The findings indicated that for effective transformation, different areas of autonomy might be facilitated by different strategic leadership domains. A robust model showing desirable transformation process, appropriate autonomy areas and their elements and specific strategic domain priorities has evolved from the questionnaire data. At a macro-level, the model indicates the necessary steps, the top priority autonomy areas and appropriate strategic leadership domains for certain areas. At a micro-level, the model shows the substantial elements of an autonomy area, appropriate strategic leadership domains, and the relevant internal contextual factors of Rajabhat Institutes. The results from both the interview and the questionnaire contributed significantly to the insight into what university autonomy should cover and how to effectively transform a higher education institution. As institutional transformation, either partial or institutional-wide, is considered a change process, the strategic leadership domains in this study concur with the management literature on change theories. Thus, the results from this study could be considered valid to other examples of organisational transformation

Different Stream, Different Needs, and Impact: Managing International Labor Migration in ASEAN: Thailand (Immigration)

The study on "Managing International Labor Migration in ASEAN: Thailand" aimed to study policies and institution arrangement for managing international migration as part of regional cooperation initiatives and bilateral agreements. The study emphasized on finding out why the current management of sending workers and protecting workers has not been effective. The data used for the analysis came from two main majority sources; 1) the quantitative data, including primary data on possible solutions, strategies, the secondary sources from Socio-Economic Survey (SES) and information where necessary to explain the socioeconomic impact of migrant worker families; and 2) the qualitative study collected from interview of key informants, focus group discussion with families of migrant workers, governments, brokers, and etc. As data allow, cost benefit analysis for out-migration as well as in-migration from government intervention programs was applied. The theory of push and pull factors were used for describing reasons that forced migrant workers to work overseas. As of the study, there was the evidence that pointed out that poverty and indebtedness were push factor for both emigration and immigration while higher income in the destination countries was the pull factor. The study further found that both of emigration and immigration were beneficial in various aspects including increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) in both country of origin and the destination country. Remittance was an important source of the country development budget, increase in the level of national saving, and improve income distribution. However, it was due to the fact that most migrant workers were from low educational background, thus most of them become victims of exploitation and human trafficking from the agencies and employers in particular undocumented workers. Even though, Thai government has many laws and regulations regarding prevention and protection of migrant workers such as Labour Law and Labour Protection Act; and the Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) in regional and bilateral level, these have not been effective due to the weakness in law enforcement of the authorities.migrant workers, immigration, international migration, emigration, undocumented workers

2004, 'The Thai economy: a picture from the past

Since the first release of the national development plan in 1961, Thailand has transformed from a less appealed place for foreign investors to become a remarkable regional investment 'hot spot.' This striking success was undeniably owing to all country's development plans that were employed throughout four decades

The meaning of "social safety nets"

In Southeast Asia, the issue of "social safety nets" (SSNs) has emerged more prominently since the financial crisis. Despite the increased interest in social safety nets, there is still considerable confusion among scholars and national and international organizations regarding the use and meaning of the term. This article considers the different definitions of the term--particularly as it was used during the Asian Financial Crisis--and to attempt to clarify its meaning and proper use. The safety net analogy is drawn from high-wire walkers who are protected by a safety net if they fall. The safety net prevents any walker who falls--unexpectedly or not--from hitting the floor and incurring catastrophic injuries. Following this line of reasoning, it is not surprising to learn that some organizations and scholars use the term SSN such that it encompasses private and public mechanisms that assist individuals in maintaining a minimum level of consumption. The term "social safety net" (SSN) began to be used by Bretton Woods' institutions in connection with structural adjustment programs related to their lending programs. Developing countries introduced SSNs to mitigate the social impact of structural adjustment measures on specific low-income groups. They were initially formulated to serve three objectives: poverty alleviation, to make adjustment programs more politically acceptable, and institutional reform. During the Asian Financial Crisis, there was a great deal of confusion regarding the content and consequent identification of SSN programs. Public SSN programs can be classified into formal and informal safety nets. Formal and informal safety nets are, generally, distinguished by law enforcement: formal safety nets are those which legally guarantee individuals access to economic or social support whereas informal safety nets provide likelihood of support to individuals to assure them of attaining or remaining above the designated minimum standard of living but with no legal guarantee. Informal SSNs can be divided into private and public ones. Examples of private informal SSNs include transfers from family members, friends, neighbors and community members and institutions, including NGOs, while those of public informal SSNs refer to the support which individuals can hope for from the government, through programs which generate assets or employment, transfer income, or provide basic social services, as a means of helping affected individuals from falling below the designated minimum standard of living. The difference between formal and informal public SSNs is whether there exists a formal legal support of the assistance. The article has provided more discussion on the definitions of SSN used by the World Bank, ESCAP, ILO and TDRI. In conclusion, the authors note that the tremendous variation in the use of the term invites confusion and makes it virtually useless as a technical concept. The very nature of the metaphor invokes a vision of a large net that encompass a number of different types of programs. In many cases it is not even possible to list specific programs that are included, as the particular forms of these programs could, of course, vary with place, time and circumstances. Complicating things further, the term is sometimes used in a very narrow sense. Given the low probability that usage of the term will ever be standardized, economists and national/international organizations might be well served by avoiding the term completely and instead using its component parts.Safety net Asian Financial Crisis Poverty

Inclusive development in health and education in the GMS : the role of national policy and institutions; Thailand country study - final report

One factor behind the poor quality of Thai education is inequality in access, especially to high quality education. At university level, inequality remains severe. National education reform strategies will comprise improvements in educational testing, curriculum, teacher quality, educational quality assurance and educational financing. Issues of governance and political instability also cause economic slowdown and rising unemployment and crime, which slow education progress and decrease demand for higher education. A stronger definition of inclusive growth focuses not only on opportunities for the poor but also on equal distribution of the benefits of growth, reflected in health and education policy

Sharing the benefits from transportation linkages and logistics improvements in the GMS : a study of the East-West and North-South corridor; final technical report (13 August 2008 - 12 August 2010)

The overall objective of this project is to better understand the socio-economic impacts on various Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries and economic groups from transport corridor developments, their utilization and specific logistics improvement measures. The aim is to generate policy relevant knowledge that will help to identify specific measures to further improve transport logistics and maximize the mutual benefits of the transport corridors to all the stakeholder countries..