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Thailand’s economy lags behind peers with protracted recovery
Thailand's struggle with low productivity and poor education has led to what analysts describe as the middle-income trap, where much of the workforce remains in low-paid, low-skilled jobs.
Thailand’s economy is facing a significant slowdown, growing only 1.9 percent last year, in stark contrast to its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Key Takeaways
- During 2023 the Thai economy only grew 1.9%, while other neighboring countries like Indonesia, and Vietnam achieved a GDP growth of 5.5% and the Philippines 5.6%
- Some of the main factors behind the Thai economy’s slowdown are the slow return of demand from major export markets and a global shift towards value-added services that require higher local skills and capabilities.
- This year’s Thai GDP is expected to improve and reach a 2.6% growth.
- Thailand’s high household debt and slow economic growth indicate a wider malaise in the country’s economy
The Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia have all seen growth rates of 5 percent or higher. This disparity highlights the challenges
Thailand faces, high household debt, which reached nearly 91 percent of GDP, and a large portion of this debt comprises high-interest informal loans
What are the main factors behind the current situation for the Thai economy?
The economic stagnation is attributed to a combination of factors, including the slow return of demand from major export markets and a global shift towards value-added services that require higher local skills and capabilities.
Thailand’s struggle with low productivity and poor education has led to what analysts describe as the middle-income trap, where much of the workforce remains in low-paid, low-skilled jobs.
In contrast, countries like Indonesia are adapting to the changing nature of globalization and enhancing their competitiveness. Thailand’s economic planners and the Bank of Thailand face the challenge of addressing these systemic issues to avoid falling further behind its rapidly advancing peers.
“Thailand suffers not only from the slow return of demand from major export markets, but also from the changing nature of globalisation that hurts its competitiveness,” Pavida Pananond, a professor of international business at Thammasat Business School, told Al Jazeera.
As Thailand continues to grapple with these issues, the necessity for the systematic upgrading of the labor force and local firms’ ability to innovate becomes apparent. It seems that the country’s chance of economic prosperity may indeed depend on its ability to maneuver through the middle-income trap and introduce the type of reforms that will help stimulate growth and innovation.
For this year the Thai economy is expected to reach a growth of 2.6% driven by an improvement in tourism, good exports, and sustained private consumption.
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