59-05-032 Proceeding

106 Proceedings of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Congress Thailand was among other developing countries to follow the path of modernization. The growth oriented approach had been adopted since the first National Economic and Social Development Plan (1961-1966).Thailand has been considered a rural agricultural country. Around 80 percent of the total Thai population was involved in the agricultural sector. In the 1960s and 1970s, agriculture served as the main source of income for the majority of the Thai population and acted as an “engine of growth” of the country’s economy (Bunbongkarn, 2013). Thailand was changed from an agricultural country to an industrialized country during 1977-1997. In the post World War II period, Thailand attracted foreign investment, as a consequence industry played an important role in the development of the country (Wedchayanon and Chorkaew, 2014). The result of the change inThailand’s development was somewhat positive.The poverty rate was fallen whereas the per capita income was higher. Despite the encouraging result, the criticisms were still there mostly on the income inequality and regional disparities. The problem on poverty remains particularly in rural areas (NESDB, 2006). There have been several attempts on finding alternatives of development approaches around theworld, in particular, to suit the conditions of developing countries. Different approaches were introduced starting from dependency theories and sustainable development concept to human resources development. All of them shifted away from the traditional and mainstream approaches to focus more on the non-economic factors especially the social and environmental concerns (Wedchayanon and Chorkaew, 2014). Thailand is no different. The country has been trying to search for the approach that fit its socio-geographical conditions. The Thai government has changed its development approachwhich focusedmainly on growth to instead concentrate on human development. In order to assist the people-centered development approach to go forward and to serve as the social and economic development, the Thai government adopted Sufficiency Economy, an alternative approach to development introduced byHisMajesty the King ofThailand. II. Sufficiency Economy: An Alternative to Development Throughout the years onhis throne,HisMajestyKingBhumibol Adulyadej has concentrated on human development. HisMajesty’s concern has long been on sustainable development in order to invest in royal development projects that will provide long term results. His focus has also been on improving the lives of poor people around Thailand and to assist them to help themselves. Since His Majesty’s interest has always been over his people, he has tirelessly travelled across the country in remote areas to learn about the hardship and problems his people were facing.The data, experiences and knowledge acquired fromthe travels guidedHisMajestyKing Bhumibol Adulyadej to put a strong emphasis on the successful results of research, study and experimentation which are appropriate forThailand’s different socio-geographic conditions (UNDP, 2006). Since the past development approaches applied by the government were not suitable forThailand’s development, Sufficiency Economy has, therefore, become an alternative to the national development plan given that it serves as a guideline that can respond to the country’s social and economic development as