Thais happy, but not with politics,economy: poll
Thais have grown less happy in the past month over several issues since the Yingluck government took office, an opinion survey has found.
The survey on Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH) was conducted by Assumption University's Community Happiness Research Centre.
Dr Noppadol Kannikar said the survey was conducted among 2,520 residents of 17 provinces, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Roi Et and Kalasin. The respondents were at least 18 years old. The survey was conducted from September 1 to 10.
Noppadol said the GDH survey was based on 26 indicators, divided into three groups - social, economic and political happiness. He said 100 points was used as the benchmark of happiness in the survey.
The survey found that indicators of both economic and political groups showed people were becoming less happy - while the average points of social indicators showed people as remaining happy.
The survey found the social GDH at 109.30 points; while the political GDH and economic GDH scores were 84.56 and 77.58 respectively, much lower than the happiness benchmark of 100 points.
Noppadol said the political GDH and economic GDH scores were even lower than the last survey carried out during the term of former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Noppaodol said the overall GDH score was 90.48, lower than the happiness benchmark, indicating the people were unhappy.
The survey found the people became happiest at seeing Thais showing loyalty to His Majesty the King. This indicator received 162.7 points.
The second highest happiness score involved people's family relations - with 135.0 points, Noppadol said.
The survey found people not happy with the work of the government during the past 30 days recorded at 91.2 points.
The people were not happy about the political situation during the past 30 days, indicator recording only 68.2 points, Noppadol said.
