Index On Happiness Of Thais And Foreign Expatriates Edges Up

[george]

Index on happiness of Thais and foreign expatriates edges up

BANGKOK: -- Thai people and foreign expatriates in Thailand felt happier during the November-December period since they had an opportunity to express loyalty to the monarchy and appreciate kindness of His Majesty the King, according to a poll by Assumption University or ABAC Poll.

Noppadol Kannikar, Director of ABAC Poll Research Office, revealed a result of a survey on “Gross Happiness of Local People in November-December 2006” with a random sample of 5,013 Thai people and foreign expatriates in 21 provinces during November 25-Decmeber 23.

Of this, 4,571 are Thai people and 442 are foreign expatriates in Thailand.

It showed the index on the gross happiness of Thai people increased to 5.74 from 4.86 in October because people in all walks of life had a chance to express loyalty to the monarchy, and appreciate kindness of the monarch towards subjects and his royally initiated projects.

The index on the gross happiness of foreign expatriates in Thailand rose slightly to 7.14 on the same reasons as those of Thai people.

Categorised by region, the survey found the happiness level of people in the central region stayed was the lowest at 5.32, followed by Bangkokians at 5.36, northeastern people at 5.71, southern people at 6, and northern people at 6.15.

Factors that made the people happy include an organisation of Royal Flora Rachaphruck, health and mind, climate within the family and community.

Factors that made people happy at a low level include good governance, government politics, independent organisations, and habitat environment.

The survey showed 91.9 per cent stated they did not have a trust the local administration organisations, 90.8 per cent said they were unable to examine the government’s and the local administration organisations’ performance, and 89.7 per cent indicated people failed to participate in coping with the country’s problems.

--TNA 2006-12-25

[Jai Dee]

Thais credit King for happiness

Gross domestic happiness has risen thanks to His Majesty: Abac Poll

Thailand's gross domestic happiness index, measured on both Thais and expatriates, has increased due mainly to His Majesty the King's compassion and graciousness, according to an Abac poll released yesterday.

The survey, conducted by Assumption University from November 25 to December 23 on 4,571 Thais and 442 expatriates living in Bangkok and 20 other provinces, found that the main index increased from 4.86 in October to 5.74 in November.

The factors behind the increase were the compassion extended to them by the beloved monarch as well as by their own appreciation towards various benefits to the public generated by his Royal projects.

The main index measured on expatriates increased slightly to 7.14 in December, due mainly to their acknowledgement of His Majesty's compassion and graciousness extended to foreigners working and living in Thailand, the poll said.

The poll examined categories including health, mental health, communities and natural resources. All indexes were higher than five out of 10, ranging from the lowest at 5.19 to the highest at 7.34.

Negative issues in Thai society were also included and all measured under five: fairness and justice at 4.78; accommodation and surroundings at 4.33; good governance and effective NGOs' performances at 4.16 and market success in free global trade at 4.02.

Factors were the public's lack of trust in local administrative bodies (91.9 per cent), the public's inability to scrutinise the government and local bodies' performances (90.8 per cent), the lack of public participation in working out state policies (89.7 per cent) and the lack of interest by most public members in public service affairs (83 per cent).

People living in the Central region are the most unhappy, with an index of 5.36, while Bangkokians are second in the unhappiness stakes. Northerners are the happiest while Southerners and Northeasterners come second and third respectively.

As for the poor score on good governance, corruption and abuse of power by police accounts for 84.9 per cent while malfeasance by other civilian officials ranks second at 82.1 per cent.

The other reasons are different favours extended to public members based on their social status (79.3 per cent), the absence of channels for people to voice their grievances (66.2 per cent) and discrimination created by legal loopholes (61.4 per cent).

Pollster Noppadon Kannika said that since the public's appreciation for the Royal family's compassion contributed largely to the increase in the index figures, he suggested the government adopt these factors, especially the sufficiency economy advocated by the King, in their administrative guidelines next year in order to maintain the high index.

Source: The Nation - 25 December 2006

[ilyushin]

This news makes me happier too!

Also, I now have figures to debate with my wife on local understanding of government.

Thanks for the post Jaidee.

[londonthai]

or it's just a cooler weather and the end of the rainy season which influenced moods and emotions?

[jts-khorat]

One of the typical BS articles the government (and "independent" universities) are churning out.

Funny enough, besides the optimistic headline I read the article as if 90% of all people are actually unhappy with the government and its performance.

And the changed Visa regulations seem to have a rather counterintuitive effects on the expats, do they not?

'nuff said...

[richard10365]

My son was born this year. That made me feel more cheerful this year.

[Francis Maube]

Don't worry, be happy....who sang that? Can't remenber, must be all that feel good from so many happy people.

[astral]

Don't these ABAC Poll Research Office have anything better to enquire about?

5000 is a pretty minimalist sample.

How about polls on corruption and transparency of government,

much more critical subject.

[londonthai]

... the lack of interest by most public members in public service affairs (83 per cent).

People living in the Central region are the most unhappy, with an index of 5.36, while Bangkokians are second in the unhappiness stakes. ...

As for the poor score on good governance, corruption and abuse of power by police accounts for 84.9 per cent while malfeasance by other civilian officials ranks second at 82.1 per cent.

The other reasons are different favours extended to public members based on their social status (79.3 per cent), the absence of channels for people to voice their grievances (66.2 per cent) and discrimination created by legal loopholes (61.4 per cent)

I believe that under the title "Thais credit King for happiness. Gross domestic happiness has risen thanks to His Majesty" they were able to snick through quite a lot of criticism of thai ruling class.

the index on the gross happiness of Thai and farang increased to 5.74 - but is far from 100.00 or even 50.00 happiness index

Edited December 26, 2006 by londonthai

[Flow]

One of the typical BS articles the government (and "independent" universities) are churning out.

And the changed Visa regulations seem to have a rather counterintuitive effects on the expats, do they not?

'nuff said...

Spot on!

[NaiGreg]

This is the only poll I've seen anywhere or anytime in the last 25 years that really means anything at all. And the actual numbers could be completely fabricated and I would feel the same way. The rest are opinion clutter published in the media morass.

Okay, how many people agree with the last statement?

1. Completely agree.

2. Completely disagree.

3. Confused.

[womble]

Don't worry, be happy....who sang that? Can't remenber, must be all that feel good from so many happy people.

The singer of that song committed suicide............

The research for this article was done in october, a long time ago. Had it been done after last tuesdays 30% ruling I think we would see very different figures.

The sooner we have an elected government the better, no one is going to invest $ until people in uniforms are back in their barracks and no longer in government house.

[Rhys]

REally... He did.. The singer.. Bobby McFerrin.. A brother..

[OlRedEyes]

Ja well no fine.

[Siripon]

Don't worry, be happy....who sang that? Can't remenber, must be all that feel good from so many happy people.

The singer of that song committed suicide............

The research for this article was done in october, a long time ago. Had it been done after last tuesdays 30% ruling I think we would see very different figures.

The sooner we have an elected government the better, no one is going to invest $ until people in uniforms are back in their barracks and no longer in government house.

I have to disagree there. For many Thais September 19 was the happiest day of the year.

Only now are corrupt practices becoming clear and revealed, the new airport's absurd lighting system in the loading bays for luggage to be put on planes being the latest; none of these revelations happened under the 'democratic' rule of Thaksin.

[TLloyd]

REally... He did.. The singer.. Bobby McFerrin.. A brother..

His reported suicide is a urban legend. Google him & see. His father, Bobby McFerrin Sr., died last November at the age of 85. So...don't worry, be happy...at least until you are 85.