Over 100 Economists Air Dissent To Pheu Thai-Designed Digital Wallet Project

[webfact]

 

OVER 100 ECONOMISTS have jointly expressed opposition to the Pheu Thai-led government’s 10,000-baht digital wallet handout project which Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has reassured to put to work.

 

A total of 133 economists and university academics, either active or retired, ranging from former governors of the Bank of Thailand Tarisa Watanaket and Wirathai Santiprapop and former deputy governors of the central bank Achana Waikhuamdee and Bundit Nitthavorn to Chulalongkorn and Thammasat university economists, among others, have so far undersigned a joint statement in opposition to the Pheu Thai populist campaign pledged to be carried out in favour of an estimated 56 million Thais.

 

Each and every Thai national aged 16 years or over has been promised a sum of 10,000 baht in digital wallet to buy goods and services in a four-kilometre radius of their registered homes within a six-month period.

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

TOP: Representative image of 10,000-baht digital wallet handout project. Photo: Thai Rath

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2023-10-09

 

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[ukrules]

He's not listening

[redwood1]

Still no details on how this will work......

 

Detals detals the people dont need no stinking details....

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

OVER 100 ECONOMISTS have jointly expressed opposition to the Pheu Thai-led government’s 10,000-baht digital wallet handout project which Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has reassured to put to work

Unfortunately this is one promise that PTP cannot walk back on, it would be political suicide.

Why do you think Srettha is taxing everything and TAT are pushing through the tourist tax?

The pot is empty and they need funds fast before the population of over 16's get frustrated.

[buriram39]

38 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Unfortunately this is one promise that PTP cannot walk back on, it would be political suicide.

Why do you think Srettha is taxing everything and TAT are pushing through the tourist tax?

The pot is empty and they need funds fast before the population of over 16's get frustrated.

Yes, and the pot of over 16's is growing.

[Karma80]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

The pot is empty and they need funds fast before the population of over 16's get frustrated.

*More frustrated. He didn't exactly start off the people's choice.

[Cake Monster]

The number of Economists voicing concern has risen by 34 from the last number reported just 4 Days ago

Oh ! Srettha, what are you doing except proving that you are not a Politician

[hotchilli]

59 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

The number of Economists voicing concern has risen by 34 from the last number reported just 4 Days ago

Oh ! Srettha, what are you doing except proving that you are not a Politician

The election promise of 10,000 baht for every person over 16 has come back to bite them..

Srettha just found out the coffers are empty after Prayut left office.

 

[fondue zoo]

If only they had rounded up 101 economists.. they may have had a chance.

Edited October 9, 2023 by fondue zoo

[Tropicalevo]

There are not many countries where blatant vote buying is openly accepted.

I ❤️ Thailand.

[Eric Loh]

I think it is too soon for the economists to object to the project without the full details on its implementation. The project may not be for the estimated 56 millions and may be directed to a much smaller group of Thais living below certain level of income. There is still time to design the project's particulars with the constantly moving economic datas. 

[fondue zoo]

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

I think it is too soon for the economists to object to the project without the full details on its implementation. The project may not be for the estimated 56 millions and may be directed to a much smaller group of Thais living below certain level of income. There is still time to design the project's particulars with the constantly moving economic datas. 

 

Have they made it clear as to how they intend to fund the handout?

 

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, fondue zoo said:

 

Have they made it clear as to how they intend to fund the handout?

 

Yet to disclose funding source. Hints that it could be from government fiscal 2024 budget and tax revenues as a result of the economic stimulus or even borrowing from domestic bonds. Devil in the details. My feeling is that the project will trim down the number of recipents based on income level which will trim down the project cost. 

[phetphet]

All those teens being given 10,000 baht. All the cannabis shops must be rubbing their hands in anticipation....unless the gov't changes the law and clamp down on them first.

[timendres]

14 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Yet to disclose funding source. Hints that it could be from government fiscal 2024 budget and tax revenues as a result of the economic stimulus or even borrowing from domestic bonds. Devil in the details. My feeling is that the project will trim down the number of recipents based on income level which will trim down the project cost. 

Or... it is a small price to pay to hand everyone a digital wallet -- Step 1.

Digital currency would allow the government to collect taxes they would otherwise have no hope of ever collecting.

[Eric Loh]

8 minutes ago, timendres said:

Or... it is a small price to pay to hand everyone a digital wallet -- Step 1.

Digital currency would allow the government to collect taxes they would otherwise have no hope of ever collecting.

A blockchain wallet will ensure that collection.