ADDRESSING INEQUALITY IN THAI SOCIETY THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY

Abstract

This article aims: 1. To analyze the inequality situation in Thai society and its structural causes, 2. To evaluate public policies related to reducing inequality in recent years, and 3. To propose integrated and sustainable approaches to address inequality. The study was found that despite Thailand’s continuous economic growth, inequality remains high in terms of income, wealth, and access to basic services. These problems stemed from five key structural factors: 1. economic structures that favored capital owners over labor, 2. centralized government administration, 3. land rights issues, 4. limited access to the justice system, and 5. inefficient and non-transparent public administration. The article presented solutions through the IDMIR model, an integrated development approach operating simultaneously in five areas: Institutional and Policy Restructuring, Development of Human and Social Capital, Mobilization of Innovation and Technology Access, Integration of Collaborative Networks, and Robust Monitoring and Evaluation Systems. The approach emphasized implementing parallel policies combining targeted welfare for vulnerable groups with increased economic opportunities, while developing accurate database systems for effective policy design. The study contributed to scholarship by proposing an integrated systems approach to policy development that could sustainably address inequality through multidimensional interventions adapted to Thailand’s specific socioeconomic context.