Thai Bureaucracy is 'Dragging Down' Economy, Top Expert Warns
Former Bank of Thailand Governor demands deep structural reforms, warning the country will be left behind if it fails to tackle corruption and red tape
- A leading Thai economist, Veerathai Santipraphob, has warned that the country's rigid bureaucratic system is a major factor slowing and hindering national economic growth.
- Past attempts at reform have failed due to being merely cosmetic, coupled with issues like government fragmentation, outdated laws, and political influence.
- The expert calls for an urgent and fundamental overhaul focused on three core actions: combating corruption, reforming regulations to cut red tape, and establishing a proper foundation for change.
A leading Thai economist has delivered a stark warning to the government, insisting the country must urgently overhaul its rigid bureaucratic system to avoid being left behind by global changes.
Speaking at the annual National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) conference on Friday, Veerathai Santipraphob, แhairman of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) and former Bank of Thailand Governor, addressed the topic, "Overhauling Thailand's Structure: How to Make it a Reality."
Veerathai asserted that the current Thai bureaucracy remains a significant factor slowing and hindering the nation's economic growth.
He urged for a fundamental shift, transforming the civil service from a hindrance into a vital engine capable of driving the economy and significantly improving citizens' lives.
"With the accelerating pace of global change, the civil service must adapt to new dynamics and be able to take the lead in addressing various transformations," Veerathai stated.
He stressed that a renewed focus must be placed on reducing inequality and delivering higher-quality public welfare, including comprehensive services in health and education.
Cosmetic Changes and Fragmentation
The expert attributed the lack of concrete success in past reform attempts to several key failures:
Superficial Adjustments: Reforms have been mostly cosmetic, failing to address the fundamental underlying structure.
Structural Fragmentation: Government organisations are excessively compartmentalised, leading to service inefficiencies and operational duplication.
Obsolete Legislation: A persistent attachment to outdated laws that are no longer fit for the modern context.
Political Influence: An organisational culture heavily swayed by political agendas, which diverts focus from public benefit.
The Three Pillars of Reform
To effectively restructure the country, Veerathai called for three core actions:
- Combating corruption.
- Reforming government rules and regulations (red tape).
- Establishing a strong and proper foundation from the outset.
"The public wants to see real change, not just a series of short-term accomplishments," Veerathai noted.
He concluded that the major challenge now is to find a way to correctly and completely lay the groundwork for reform, allowing the country to achieve sustainable development and move forward decisively.
