Border economic zones and development dynamics in Thailand : a comparative study of bordering countries | |
| Author | Choen Krainara |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.RD-16-04 |
| Subject(s) | Borderlands--Economic conditions--Thailand Border crossing--Thailand |
| Note | A dissertation submitted inpartial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Regional and Rural Development Planning |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. RD-16-04 |
| Abstract | Economic interdependence between Thailand and the surrounding less developed countries has increasingly become much closer since the last few decades. Yet, considerable development gaps seem to be wideningcausing persistently “asymmetric relations”. Since 2003, Thailand has planned to promote integrated development of border economic zones (BEZs) with bordering countries. The aim of this study is to assess the locational advantages, economic and social linkages and development potential of 3 strategic cross-border regions along the GMS economic corridors. The study areas included (1) Aranyaprathet district in Sakaeo province bordering with O‟Chrov district in Banteay Meanchey province of Cambodia; (2) Muang Mukdahan district in Mukdahan province bordering with Kaysone Phomvihane district of Savannakhet province in Lao PDR; and (3) Maesod district in Tak province bordering with Myawaddy district in Kayin state of Myanmar.The study is primarily a quantitative research design supplemented by a qualitative research design. The study found thatdevelopment of BEZs in Thailand is intermittent and currently moving forward due to enabling policies. Fostered by both geographical adjacency of structural differences and the contributing factors, the pattern of local and regional cross-border trade, as well as cross-border transit trade have shown a rising trend. Macro cross-border trade with Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Myanmar during 2008-2013 has reached significant level sharing average of 30.77 % to intra-ASEAN trade.Most of the cross-border trader and wholesaler respondents across the regions are family-based businesses and mainly being SMEs. Thai goods are widely accepted among bordering countries. However, cross-border traded goods are mainly produced in Bangkok metropolis and its vicinity such as the eastern region. At present, Thai border cities mainly play distribution role. Industrial respondents in Thai border districts are mostly SMEs. The Thai border districts are more industrialized than the 2 bordering districts, except in Kaysone Phomvihane district of Lao PDR, which is more industrialized than the counterpart bordering Muang Mukdahan district of Thailand. Maesod district has become an important high-end fashion cluster of Thailand while O‟Chrov district of Cambodia specializes in low-end fashion products.There is an existing spatial division of labor in Maesod district of Thailand.Household respondents across Thai border districts have higher monthly household income than the counterpart respondents in the bordering districts, ranging from 1.1 to 3 times. Complementary linkages exist for sources of household income between Thai border districts and the counterpart bordering districts, particularly on labor and cross-border outsourcing activities. Employment of immigrant labor from bordering countries is widely practiced in economic and household sectors across Thai border districts.Since 2004, there has been expanding cross-border investment in the form of contract farming. During 2002-2014, there was a rapid increase of local and regional cross-border people mobility across the regions. During 2009-2014, there was also a rapid change in local and regional cross-border vehicle mobility across the regions. Therefore, promoting holistic and integrated borderlands development policies and strategies for 3 CBRs in Thailand towards ASEAN Community have subsequently been recommended. |
| Year | 2016 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. RD-16-04 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Routray, Jayant Kumar |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed ;Winai Wongsurawat |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government ;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph. D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2016 |