Cash handouts fail to provide Thai economy the expected thrust

10 Sept 05:58 Key points summarised by AI

The Thai government's ambitious cash handout scheme, distributing nearly 200 billion baht, has largely failed to provide the expected economic thrust, with preliminary estimates indicating only a 0.3 percentage point increase in GDP growth for 2024 at a significant fiscal cost.
Critics, including opposition members, warn the program is an inefficient use of taxpayer money, contributing to a rising public debt (63.3% of GDP) and a widening fiscal deficit, which risks a credit downgrade and higher borrowing costs for the nation.
Despite its limited broader economic impact, the cash transfers effectively reduced poverty to an estimated 8.2% in 2024 and decreased inequality, primarily by boosting household consumption among vulnerable populations.
While the handouts offer some short-term consumption boost, Thailand's overall economic recovery is projected to accelerate in 2025, driven more significantly by robust domestic demand, increased investment, and a rebound in the tourism sector.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.