On June 21, 2022, – the College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University organized a brainstorming forum under the project ‘KKU Public Policy Advocacy Forum 2022’ at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. This event is an exchange of ideas as a guideline for developing a public policy by inviting representatives of political parties and representatives from various agencies come to join the discussion and exchange ideas.
Assoc. Prof. Peerasit Khanunsilp, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Local Administration Khon Kaen University said that in the past, the college has studied and researched economic development from the foundations to drive Thailand out of the middle-income trap. The research found that the economic development of Thailand during the past 60 years has been based on the theory of ‘Water drops pouring from a height’ as a framework by giving the group who are ready or wealthy as the main driving force and develop the country’s economy. This strategy was successful. As a result, Thailand changed its status from a low-income country. Become a middle-income country
Currently, macroeconomics academics are concerned that the Thai economic may not only be stagnant but may also retreat due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. Therefore, Thailand must adjust to the new economic development by requiring local administrative organizations to provide more support for local economic development.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University added that the important mission of Khon Kaen University is to create and disseminate as well as promote the application of knowledge gained from studies and research to be further developed until it is formulated as a guideline for public policy management. by requiring local government organizations which is a public organization play an important role in the sustainable economic development of the country and is the main part in reducing inequality in the country.
Narongchai Akkraseranee, Ph.D., Chairman of the University Council, said that the result of centralized administration over the past several decades and pointed out that constraints on the consolidated governance structure. It is a huge problem and obstacle to the economic development of the local government organizations. The central government is responsible for making decisions and providing a public service model. The local government organization is the provider who has the power to make decisions in the provision of public services only on some issues. It reflected that Thailand could not truly develop its economy from the foundations.
At the event, there were also academics and public policy experts came to present various interesting the research results, such as The Future of Thai Local Administration by Prof. Wutthisan Tanchai, Ph.D., secretary-general of King Prajadhipok’s Institute; A Probable Model of Grassroots Economic Development for Thailand by Prof. Bruce Gilley of Portland State University, USA; The Success of Local Economic Development by Andrey Timofeev, Ph.D., from Georgia State University, USA.; Policy Model Derived from Research and Proposal Drive to Open the Policy Window at the Political Institute Level by Prof. Direk Patamasiriwat, Ph.D., Public Finance Specialist and Asst. Prof. Kritchawat Lovacharin, Ph.D.; Role of University in Driving Policy Proposals into Practice by Prof. Monchai Duangjinda, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Khon Kaen University.
Representatives from political parties, representatives of the local government organization, and academics brainstorm for setting common goals to drive public policy proposals to lead the practice.
reference: https://www.cola.kku.ac.th/cola/web/article.php?a_id=2156