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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XII, 2020

Thailand that high inequality has been a factor underlying the recent political
conflicts and instability, the Thai government began to talk about introducing
measures to reduce it.

It is not difficult to design policies to combat inequality. This paper has
offered solutions in terms of policies, derived from experiences of other countries

around the world, which succeeded in bringing down inequality. The paper
has focused on the roles of a modern state in providing necessary quality public
goods and services for all the citizens in egalitarian manner. This is to enable all
of them to develop full capacity to move with the market economy with dignity
and freedom, as proposed by Amartya Sen. But Thai society has social forces that
both support and resist change. Experiences from many countries show having
political will is most important for success.

Whether there is a political will to create an egalitarian society in
Thailand is indeed the big question.

References

Barro, R., 2000. Inequality and Growth in a Panel of Countries. Journal of Economic
Growth 5(1): 5-32.
Berg, A.., Ostry, J.D., and Zettelmeyer, J., 2012. What Makes Growth Sustained?
Journal of Development Economics, 98(2): 149–66.

Bovornsak Uwanno, 2009. Botbat sue muanchon kap kan patiirupkan mueang
[The Role of Media and Political reform]. Presented to Isara Anantakul
Foundation, at King Prajadhipok Institute on 4 April, Bangkok.

Chaiwat Kamchoo, 2017. Looking Back and Looking Forward to Democratization
[In Thai]. Paper presented at the Annual Seminar of the Political Science
Division, Faculty of Social Science, Naresuan University, 4 April.

Dabla-Norris, E., Kochhar, K., Suphaphiphat, N., Ricka, F., and Tsounta, E., 2015.
Causes and Consequences of Income Inequality: A Global Perspective.
IMF Staff Discussion Note 15/13, International Monetary Fund,
Washington.

Dilaka Lathapipat, 2013. The Influence of Family Wealth on Educational
Attainments of Youths in Thailand. Economics of Education Review 37:
240–57.

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