Columnnist

Chartchai Parasuk

Freelance economist

Chartchai Parasuk, PhD, is a freelance economist.

Chartchai Parasuk
1 Jun 2023

Getting ready for a new economic era

Admittedly, I did not vote for Move Forward Party (MFP). I did like the idea of pro-democracy, equality for all, people-centric policies, and de-monopolisation, all of which they espouse.

1 Jun 2023 10
Getting ready for a new economic era
18 May 2023

New govt faces 4 economic time bombs

The election result is already out and Thailand is heading for a big policy change. As the party with most seats, the Move Forward Party will form the government. The second place-getter -- the Pheu Thai Party -- has agreed to be in the coalition. These two parties, however, have totally different views on how to run the economy.

18 May 2023 21
New govt faces 4 economic time bombs
4 May 2023

A new middle class and core industries

This article, after a few interruptions, is Part 3 of "Changing Thailand: The Series." It began with a prologue that presented an overview, emphasising that Thailand has been lagging behind its neighbours in terms of per-capita income growth.

4 May 2023 7
A new middle class and core industries
20 Apr 2023

Pheu Thai's giveaway might just work

If one plans to read only one economic analysis article for this year, this is it.

20 Apr 2023 42
Pheu Thai's giveaway might just work
6 Apr 2023

Part 2: Managing household debt

This is the second article, Managing Household Debt, of the Changing Thailand series.

6 Apr 2023 25
Part 2: Managing household debt
23 Mar 2023

World faces prospect of financial tumult

Today, I was supposed to present the third article, Managing Household Debt, in the series "Changing Thailand". In fact, I have finished drafting a payment reduction model which could reduce monthly debt payments by 4.6 times without the hair-cutting debt principal or requiring government financial support. But I will delay that article for now.

23 Mar 2023 14
World faces prospect of financial tumult
9 Mar 2023

Part 1: The country needs to change

Before I start the article, I would like to report that Thailand's economic performance in January 2023 was no better than the last quarter of 2022, when GDP growth was merely 1.4%.

9 Mar 2023 38
Part 1: The country needs to change
23 Feb 2023

Changing Thailand: a series (prologue)

Before I start talking economic jargon filled with figures, let me explain Thailand's economic situation in plain language.

23 Feb 2023 40
Changing Thailand: a series (prologue)
9 Feb 2023

Thai economic prospects far from rosy

Logically, one would imagine that 2023 would be a much better year than 2022. Covid is over in every corner of the earth and economic activities resume. The world oil price is below US$80 (2,677 baht) per barrel and inflation is coming down. At the first meeting of 2023, the Fed raises interest rates to merely 25 basis points as opposed to the 50-75 basis points for each meeting in 2022.

9 Feb 2023 23
Thai economic prospects far from rosy
26 Jan 2023

Putting a dampener on Thai recovery

After three years in which the economy suffered from Covid effects, I am sorry to say that 2023 will not be the year of economic recovery as everyone had hoped. The global economy will still be plagued by inflation threats and several adverse factors such as excessive debt and the Russia-Ukraine war. These negative factors prompted the World Bank to revise its global economic growth prospects downward from 3.0% to 1.7% for 2023. The key point is a marked slowdown from 2.9% growth in 2022.

26 Jan 2023 13
Putting a dampener on Thai recovery