webfact Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Economist blames government for inefficient budget management By WICHIT CHAITRONG THE NATION Sakon Waranyuwattana BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT’S move to increase the central fund demonstrates that state agencies are functioning poorly, said Sakon Waranyuwattana, dean of Thammasat University’s faculty of economics. The amendment of the 2017 budget bill was announced in the Royal Gazette in the past few days. It authorises fund transfers from numerous state agencies to the central fund worth a combined total of Bt11.9 billion. The transfer was approved by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) last month. The government defended the move, saying that state agencies had failed to spend their budgets as planned and circumstances had changed. However, Sakon blamed the government management of the annual budget, which resulted in fragmented allocations and inefficiency. The government mainly allocates budgets through government departments, resulting in budget centralisation and a lack of coordination among officials who work for different ministries and departments. He suggested the government should decentralise budget allocation by focusing on geographic spending and allow local governments to have a greater role in budget management. Sakon added that he did not agree with increasing the central budget because he said it would be like giving a blank cheque to the Cabinet. Lawmakers cannot scrutinise spending because no details were provided about projects when the central fund was proposed by the government, he said. The central fund had risen alarmingly from about Bt10 billion to Bt100 billion in recently years, he said. When the government last year proposed the 2017 budget bill to the NLA, it set total expenditures at Bt2.73 trillion, including a sizeable central fund of Bt346 billion. Earlier this year the government also proposed a mid-year budget bill worth Bt190 billion, aimed to stimulate the economy. The 2017 fiscal year will end on September 31, and government agencies are trying to speed up their budget disbursements. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30315634 -- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clockman Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Patronage, face, corruption,! That's why! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetAnother Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 militaries feed at the public teat; always have; why would anyone expect them to be fiscally responsible ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Loh Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 There seem a great deal of effort for this government to centralize and control. For countries of similar sizes, Thailand is now the most centralized in the world. Power and funds are mostly centralized. Besides functioning poorly, centralization will likely to increase corruption as checks and balances are undermined by the huge task of monitoring the distribution of funds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 "The 2017 fiscal year will end on September 31..." I see government agencies have been given an extra day to spend their money prior to the end of the fiscal year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmsally Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Is there a list of which state agencies this would be applicable to, it all seems a bit vague. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clockman Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Vagueness is what Thailand is all about.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomacht8 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Would love to see their bookings and money transfers from 31st September. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lupatria Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Right on Khun Sakon Waranyuwattana, if life get's boring- risk it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHERNSTAR Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 (edited) And still 70% plus of budget is spend in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. Edited May 19, 2017 by SOUTHERNSTAR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobin Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Are not all Monarchies 'centralized'? That is simply the order of such governments. All funds proceed to the top, and from there doled out to the underlings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 30 minutes ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said: And still 70% plus of budget is spend in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. What else is new this is no secret. Should rename the country Bangkok and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Give the man a hardy round of applause a promotion and a raise but methinks his retirement will be in his not so distant future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvr181 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Since when has a "serving" military man been a successful economist or even an accountant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansnl Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 8 hours ago, Eric Loh said: There seem a great deal of effort for this government to centralize and control. For countries of similar sizes, Thailand is now the most centralized in the world. Power and funds are mostly centralized. Besides functioning poorly, centralization will likely to increase corruption as checks and balances are undermined by the huge task of monitoring the distribution of funds. That is exactly what is going on, centralisation. That said, I have never heard that economy is indeed an exact science. For what this Dean declares, I dare to say there are many of his colleagues who will gladly and wholeheartedly declare the opposite. And, indeed, the possibilities for corruption and useless spending by decentralised government are much bigger. Getting back unused money is a good thing, more if the next year the budget remains the same or is even lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manhood Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 So everyone can see where this country slowly is drifting....... Sakon Waranyuwattana is putting the finger in one thing...but there are soo many more things happening here in Thailand to run into a state of total corruption and the economic will break down same as it did for all the comunist countries while the government was ruling every thing without a glue of an idea of economic facts.... But yes this is the way to full up the pockets of those who are in charge..from top to bottom!!!!!!!!!!!!! Poor Thailand: poor people who have not a chance to get a spoonful of this money but have to starf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chainarong Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 One hopes this doesn't get into faceB................................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worgeordie Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 "circumstances had changed. " wonder what that really means. regards worgeordie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 7 hours ago, lvr181 said: Since when has a "serving" military man been a successful economist or even an accountant? And the truth has set him free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonmarleesco Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 'Economist blames government for inefficient budget management' Well, the government is, for the most part, made up of military appointees - and they're not necessarily good at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLobster Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 8 hours ago, elgordo38 said: Give the man a hardy round of applause a promotion and a raise but methinks his retirement will be in his not so distant future. 8 hours ago, elgordo38 said: What else is new this is no secret. Should rename the country Bangkok and get it over with. I don't understand why people double post within seconds. Is it to boost the number of posts? Is it too difficult to get your points over in one post? After all if you want to add something to your first post you can edit it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 1 hour ago, TheLobster said: I don't understand why people double post within seconds. Is it to boost the number of posts? Is it too difficult to get your points over in one post? After all if you want to add something to your first post you can edit it. Wrong on both points kind sir. Its part of the aging process its just a matter of a fertile mind pushing the submit reply button and then then an addition pops up in yea old grey matter. As you age more you will understand. My apologies for getting you upset but patience with the elderly is a virtue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gk10002000 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Gee a coup and junta controlling the money and not giving out details and not being accountable to anybody. Who'd a thought it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 On 5/19/2017 at 8:14 AM, webfact said: state agencies had failed to spend their budgets as planned That's not accurate. The agencies have almost five months to complete their budget obligations. An obligation reserves a budget from being considered an unexpended amount. An example of an obligation is a signed procurement or services contract. By moving the current unobligated funds now to the "central fund" actually prevents agencies from their fiscal plans. NLA by its approval to redirect government agencies' funds to the central fund has essentially usurped the Executive Branch's budgeted fiscal plans. Why would the NLA approve such an action and why would the Executive Branch headed by PM Prayut not object? From the perspective that the NLA is a rubber-stamp legislative assembly to the needs of the NCPO, it would seem the NCPO has changed its priorities on fiscal spending from its spending priorities as of September 2016. Maybe it's more urgent now for more military purchases? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 That's not accurate. The agencies have almost five months to complete their budget obligations. An obligation reserves a budget from being considered an unexpended amount. An example of an obligation is a signed procurement or services contract. By moving the current unobligated funds now to the "central fund" actually prevents agencies from their fiscal plans. NLA by its approval to redirect government agencies' funds to the central fund has essentially usurped the Executive Branch's budgeted fiscal plans. Why would the NLA approve such an action and why would the Executive Branch headed by PM Prayut not object? From the perspective that the NLA is a rubber-stamp legislative assembly to the needs of the NCPO, it would seem the NCPO has changed its priorities on fiscal spending from its spending priorities as of September 2016. Maybe it's more urgent now for more military purchases?We want the cash, our normal sources have dried up, so we're having it back. Well observed. Some things are best left lying in the damp ooze under flat stones, or so it is hoped... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvr181 Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 11 hours ago, elgordo38 said: And the truth has set him free? "Free" to do what he likes? Maybe he is a fan of Frank Sinatra? Sure he has stopped the armed street rioting and trying to move the country forward but only in the context of the military being always the "protective" big brother and will still oversee everything that happens in his country. There seems to be little movement (apart from lip service) on basic reforms.Those in power will not give it up willingly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatawonderfulday Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 incompetent ex army generals are not economists. That are self seeking egotistical dreamers at the very best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 42 minutes ago, lvr181 said: "Free" to do what he likes? Maybe he is a fan of Frank Sinatra? Sure he has stopped the armed street rioting and trying to move the country forward but only in the context of the military being always the "protective" big brother and will still oversee everything that happens in his country. There seems to be little movement (apart from lip service) on basic reforms.Those in power will not give it up willingly! I think you struck a cord. The big brother approach is all to familiar world wide. Every time I try to picture a big brother I see a big burly bare chested guy with a whip and a smile of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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