Four laws 'will help reduce inequality' in Thailand

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Four laws 'will help reduce inequality'
Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai
The Nation

NLA's Wuttisarn says laws on community land titles, land tax and Land Bank would help poor

BANGKOK: -- Four laws for the poor are among the promising tools to reduce inequality in Thailand, a recent academic seminar was told.

National Legislative Assembly member Assoc Prof Wuttisarn Tanchai, told the seminar these laws cover community title deeds, the Land Bank, the progressive land tax rate and the Justice Fund.

"I hope the interim government will support these laws," said Wuttisarn, who is also deputy secretary general of the King Prajadhipok's Institute.

He joined the seminar on the "Government's Social Policy in Focus" at Thammasat University's Faculty of Social Administration on Thursday.

Wuttisarn believed that without the need to retain a political support base, members of the current government should have the courage to go ahead with unpopular polices that would perpetuate reform in the country.

"Unlike populist policies, tax reform, for example, is going to displease many but the interim government should do it," he said.

Asked by a student at the seminar whether he supported the recent coup, Wuttisarn said he did not agree with how the interim government came to power. "But I see opportunities that the interim government can use and do something for the country," he said.

After staging the coup in May, the National Council for Peace and Order set up the current administration.

Speaking at the same seminar, Assoc Prof Dr Kitipat Nontapattamadul of Thammasat University's Faculty of Social Administration lamented that the National Reform Council, also set up by the NCPO, did not really have people's representatives.

"When you formulate public policies, you have to listen to people," Kitipat said.

The academic agreed with the progressive-tax-rate concept. He said it would allow a fair distribution of income.

He said most resources were still in the hands of a very small percentage of population and academics had recommended policies that they believed would properly tackle this issue and reduce the social and economic gap.

The government, for example, must improve people's access to public services.

"And to be fair, the underprivileged should get more from state welfare when compared with others," he said.

Kitipat urged the Prayut government to establish a Child Support Subsidy Fund to help parents, describing the proposal as an investment in the country's human resources.

"Research shows a child support subsidy from the government could reduce the mortality rate in children and increase the quality of the country's population," he said.

Dr Thanyalak Weerasombati of the same faculty raised concerns about labour issues. "We need labour reform too," she said.

She said the labour skills of Thais were now at the same level as Cambodians. "We need to improve their skills so that they can earn a higher income," Thanyalak said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Four-laws-will-help-reduce-inequality-30245804.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-20

[chainarong]

Since when do laws improve inequality, unless you have the disposable income to purchase you remain poor whatever the law, rules never helped the low income person no matter where they live, be it Thailand or Antarctica , unless there is a concentrated effort to improve the income of most Thais, no matter what law are enacted, nothing will change, unfortunately the present and past governments have all mollycoddled big industry's at the expense of the average Thai.

[evadgib]

How about thai males with foreign spouses getting a free pass re financial thresholds imposed upon foreign husbands of thai women?

[bangkapi]

Pie in the sky pipe dream.

[kriswillems]

I do believe that taxing unused land would be a very good thing.

The money of the rich is not put on bank accounts but is converted into "land".

Taxing land should create enough money to support low income families with children.

But I don't believe that they will actually let such a law pass because the most influential people of the county (up onto the most influential person of all Thais) are big land owners.

If they make such a law, they will create a way out for super-rich.

Edited October 20, 2014 by kriswillems

[DeepInTheForest]

Since when do laws improve inequality, unless you have the disposable income to purchase you remain poor whatever the law, rules never helped the low income person no matter where they live, be it Thailand or Antarctica , unless there is a concentrated effort to improve the income of most Thais, no matter what law are enacted, nothing will change, unfortunately the present and past governments have all mollycoddled big industry's at the expense of the average Thai.

Maybe laws that concern a minimum wage? Or laws that institute a social security system? Or laws that institute a progressive income tax, as mentioned by a professor in the article? Or laws that institute taxes on piles of inherited wealth? Or.... etc.

[lomatopo]

Equal enforcement, and treatment under the law, rather than Sakdina, would "help the poor".

Until then Thailand remains a feudal Kingdom.

[jaltsc]

"Four laws for the poor are among the promising tools to reduce inequality in Thailand"

Only need 2 laws. 1) Shoot all the rich. 2) Shoot all the poor......Instant Equality

[NCC1701A]

This does not work in other countries, and it will only make Thais worse off than they already are. Thailand is going down hill fast.

[Ulic]

Since when do laws improve inequality, unless you have the disposable income to purchase you remain poor whatever the law, rules never helped the low income person no matter where they live, be it Thailand or Antarctica , unless there is a concentrated effort to improve the income of most Thais, no matter what law are enacted, nothing will change, unfortunately the present and past governments have all mollycoddled big industry's at the expense of the average Thai.

Respectfully I have to disagree, laws and more importantly enforced laws make all the difference in improving inequality. In

particular the protection of your property and assets. Thailand/Asia is far from perfect but when you compare it to Africa, Asia is

light years ahead.Both where in about the same position economically in the early 50's.

In Africa if an entrepreneur opens up a road side stand and is successful and invests his profits back into a store front and

eventually maybe a few stores has learnt if he is too successful he will have his property confiscated by well connected (government)

mafia types. So he as learnt to fly below the radar and not be to successful, just stick with the roadside stand. Constitutionally protected

property rights would protect the entrepreneur and allow him/her to keep investing in themselves without the Mugabe's and other president

for life,dictators and there connected entourage form confiscating peoples, life's work. This is what would, over decades make all the difference.

Not the bullshit programs of the UN which perpetuate the status quo. In Africa governments keep there fingers crossed for a good drought

that will bring aid which can for the most part be skimmed. Rule of law is what makes countries successful and great. Name a successful

great country that does not have rule of law.

Edited October 20, 2014 by Ulic

[timewilltell]

How about thai males with foreign spouses getting a free pass re financial thresholds imposed upon foreign husbands of thai women?

How about abolishing these financial thresholds altogether - men and women should be free of discrimination on the grounds of sex. As it is Thai males with foreign spouses have a much easier time than Thai females with foreign spouses - that is wrong.

[greenchair]

Providing more hand-outs to woman with children has it's problems. I suspect it would be rampant with corruption. As in my country, thousands of young girls getting pregnant so they can qualify for government money. Not a penny went to most of the children. Now we have all sorts of social problems because the children were raised by children.

Finally , after 40 years the government is trying to stop this.

Group benefits are much more worthwhile.

Free uniforms.

Free school books.

Free lunches in school.

Free transports to school.

Free breakfasts to the children.

Give directly to the children,

Not to the families, who many will pocket the money and throw the kids away for the grandparents to care for.

Do not do it.

[iReason]

As far as "equality" goes, how about including a law condemning the institutionalised Xenophobia?

And teaching the young all people are, well, people same as you.

Not "us and the Falangs."

Perhaps a notation in there not to judge people by the color of their skin, hair or eyes?

[Time Traveller]

deleted post

Edited October 20, 2014 by Time Traveller

[Time Traveller]

Land tax will not work. Most of the land in the country is owned by non-tax paying entities.

And even trying to promote usage of vacant land is stupid. Why must every single land lot be made into something? What is wrong with empty land? It's certainly better for the environment being empty instead of turned into another factory/building pumping out CO2 and other noxious gases for us to breathe.

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Since when do laws improve inequality, unless you have the disposable income to purchase you remain poor whatever the law, rules never helped the low income person no matter where they live, be it Thailand or Antarctica , unless there is a concentrated effort to improve the income of most Thais, no matter what law are enacted, nothing will change, unfortunately the present and past governments have all mollycoddled big industry's at the expense of the average Thai. width=32 alt=coffee1.gif>

Respectfully I have to disagree, laws and more importantly enforced laws make all the difference in improving inequality. In

particular the protection of your property and assets. Thailand/Asia is far from perfect but when you compare it to Africa, Asia is

light years ahead.Both where in about the same position economically in the early 50's.

In Africa if an entrepreneur opens up a road side stand and is successful and invests his profits back into a store front and

eventually maybe a few stores has learnt if he is too successful he will have his property confiscated by well connected (government)

mafia types. So he as learnt to fly below the radar and not be to successful, just stick with the roadside stand. Constitutionally protected

property rights would protect the entrepreneur and allow him/her to keep investing in themselves without the Mugabe's and other president

for life,dictators and there connected entourage form confiscating peoples, life's work. This is what would, over decades make all the difference.

Not the bullshit programs of the UN which perpetuate the status quo. In Africa governments keep there fingers crossed for a good drought

that will bring aid which can for the most part be skimmed. Rule of law is what makes countries successful and great. Name a successful

great country that does not have rule of law.

Do you know anything about Africa?

Millionaires in Nigeria, Kenya and Angola will more than double by 2030

In 2013 South Africa has seen a 78% increase in millionaires to 86,700

Millionaires in Ghana will triple by 2030 with an advance of 144%
The number of Africans with at least $1m of investable assets climbed 9.9% to 140,000 in 2012

Things aren’t as black and white as you think.

[drand11]

Of course laws can impact poverty.

Of course a progressive tax law can put more money into the hands of the poor.

Of course an improved social program to help with care of kids can uplift the poor.

I am amazed that this sounds like new social programming! Thailand has had lower social class leading the nation for many years & these programs are not yet implemented?? Surprising.

[rubl]

Since when do laws improve inequality, unless you have the disposable income to purchase you remain poor whatever the law, rules never helped the low income person no matter where they live, be it Thailand or Antarctica , unless there is a concentrated effort to improve the income of most Thais, no matter what law are enacted, nothing will change, unfortunately the present and past governments have all mollycoddled big industry's at the expense of the average Thai.

Minor correction if I may. I think you meant "Since when do laws reduce inequality", or "improve equality".

Well laws can help when properly executed. 'rule by law' is not enough, it's the 'equal by law and in practise' which offers the chance of improvements. Government programs to self-entitlement and self-reliance rather than dependency on hand-outs. You help poor by giving them money, but that's either just a short term solution while implementing other measures or you're bound to have to keep on giving hand-outs to the point where it's being expected and even seen as a right, Help people to make it work by their effort. IMHO

[richard peters]

In my country of origin, we tried to bring in a "Fallow Lands Act" to stop the wealthy sqatting on land. Potentially productive land had to be put into production OR leased for the same purpose OR sold to a new owner for production purposes. The "Wealthy Squatters" made sure that this idea never came into force!

[PaullyW]

As always, it is lost on Thai policy makers and influencers that it's not the laws being written down somewhere but the equitable enforcement of the laws that brings about change. Thais have tons of laws on their shiny, well made code of laws books, and yet Thailand remains largely lawless. Why?

Edited October 20, 2014 by PaullyW

[mikebell]

Law 1 Make Thai fathers pay maintenance for their abandoned children.

Law 2 Make Thai police enforce Thai laws equally to rich and poor.

Law 3 All unusual wealth to be examined and confiscated if found to be inexplicable.

Law 4 No 'extras' to be paid for in Thai schools.

Utopia.

[lvr181]

And even trying to promote usage of vacant land is stupid. Why must every single land lot be made into something? What is wrong with empty land? It's certainly better for the environment being empty instead of turned into another factory/building pumping out CO2 and other noxious gases for us to breathe.

Huh? How about using the land for some viable sustainable growing of crops or similar? Providing some work and income for people.

That would make them less dependent on money from other less desirable "sources".

Your comment is so negative! A "greenie" maybe?

[NamKAheng]

She said the labour skills of Thais were now at the same level as Cambodians. "We need to improve their skills so that they can earn a higher income," Thanyalak said.

It will need a huge school reform for that.

[Paulzed]

As far as "equality" goes, how about including a law condemning the institutionalised Xenophobia?

And teaching the young all people are, well, people same as you.

Not "us and the Falangs."

Perhaps a notation in there not to judge people by the color of their skin, hair or eyes?

This shouldn't be a problem for a country that claims to be 95% Buddhists

[Paulzed]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Since when do laws improve inequality, unless you have the disposable income to purchase you remain poor whatever the law, rules never helped the low income person no matter where they live, be it Thailand or Antarctica , unless there is a concentrated effort to improve the income of most Thais, no matter what law are enacted, nothing will change, unfortunately the present and past governments have all mollycoddled big industry's at the expense of the average Thai. width=32 alt=coffee1.gif>

Respectfully I have to disagree, laws and more importantly enforced laws make all the difference in improving inequality. In

particular the protection of your property and assets. Thailand/Asia is far from perfect but when you compare it to Africa, Asia is

light years ahead.Both where in about the same position economically in the early 50's.

In Africa if an entrepreneur opens up a road side stand and is successful and invests his profits back into a store front and

eventually maybe a few stores has learnt if he is too successful he will have his property confiscated by well connected (government)

mafia types. So he as learnt to fly below the radar and not be to successful, just stick with the roadside stand. Constitutionally protected

property rights would protect the entrepreneur and allow him/her to keep investing in themselves without the Mugabe's and other president

for life,dictators and there connected entourage form confiscating peoples, life's work. This is what would, over decades make all the difference.

Not the bullshit programs of the UN which perpetuate the status quo. In Africa governments keep there fingers crossed for a good drought

that will bring aid which can for the most part be skimmed. Rule of law is what makes countries successful and great. Name a successful

great country that does not have rule of law.

Do you know anything about Africa?

Millionaires in Nigeria, Kenya and Angola will more than double by 2030

In 2013 South Africa has seen a 78% increase in millionaires to 86,700

Millionaires in Ghana will triple by 2030 with an advance of 144%

The number of Africans with at least $1m of investable assets climbed 9.9% to 140,000 in 2012

Things aren’t as black and white as you think.

Were are the statistics that show how much of that wealth was gained lawfully and honestly ???