Local Government Amalgamation in Thailand: A Review of Progress, Strength, Weakness, and Knowledge Gaps
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Abstract
This paper explores the body of knowledge, the meaning, the benefits, and the drawbacks of local government amalgamation based on Thai and international experiences. Successful and failure cases of local amalgamation in Thailand are also briefly reviewed. These comprise Wang-Namyen Town Municipality and the past attempt at merging with Kham-Yai City Municipality. The findings show that knowledge and understanding of political dynamics in local amalgamation are very limited, particularly regarding the allocation of seats for executives and councilmen, and the distribution of present and future political benefits after amalgamation. These political factors have been overlooked in the previous design of local institution reform policy and should be explored in greater detail in future research. The author suggests that careful, evidence-based policy design helps articulate local amalgamation plans and measures that better fit the Thai local government context so that Thailand’s local amalgamation efforts shall be successful on a wider scale in the near future.
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