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| Thai Happiness Index Below Target |
| UPDATE : 3 July 2009 |
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The government's economic think-tank has conducted a mid-term review of the 10th Economic and Social Development Plan after the first two years of its implementation and found that the Thai happiness index is lower than targeted.
Director of the evaluation office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, or NESDB, Somchai Sakdaveki-isorn, revealed that the 10th National Economic and Social Development plan is still up to date and relevant for another two years.
Somchai said with regard to the index of Thai happiness, it has increased from 63 percent in 2006 to 64.6 percent in 2007 and to 65.4 percent in 2008. However, the NESDB is not satisfied with the result as it has set a goal of improving the index to above 70 percent. The lower-than-targeted result is mostly attributed to political disputes and a lack of political ethics that undermine the Thai society.
The agency has listed seven concerns that need to be addressed quickly. These include promoting national reconciliation, good governance, suppression of drug abuse, prevention of corruption among politicians and civil service officials and better quality of life and social security for Thais.
He said the Thai economy during the first two years of the 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan was sound, with sustainable economic fundamental and natural resources. Although Thailand has experienced a recession since the fourth quarter of 2008, the government's stimulus measures are efficient enough to solve the problem.
However, the government is advised to urgently increase agricultural produce value by using modern technology combined with Thai folk wisdom, to lower transportation costs by developing mass transit projects and to build economic immunity by carrying out appropriate fiscal and monetary policies.
NESDB Deputy Secretary-General Utit Khaotien said the agency will hold its annual meeting on July 10 to brainstorm ideas from politicians, academics, businesspeople and the general public to formulate the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan for the year 2012 to 2016.
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