Beyond static inequality: public policies and economic mobility in Thailand

Patima Chongcharoentanawat

Research output: ThesisDoctoral ThesisExternal prepared

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Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to understand economic mobility in the context of a developing economy and the role that social protection programs have played in promoting economic mobility. Thailand serves as a case study to explore this research objective. The study establishes causality linking participation in certain social protection programs which, in theory, have the potential to overcome mobility constraints including vocational training, microcredit and social pension, and changes in mobility outcomes by means of various impact evaluation methods. Results suggest that in practice, only the social pension program is found to impact beneficiaries along the outcome dimensions considered. The thesis concludes that the implementation of social protection programs alone does not necessarily remove binding constraints to upward mobility. Program design and details of implementation matter.
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Maastricht University
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Gassmann, Franziska, Supervisor
  • Mohnen, Pierre, Supervisor
Award date16 Dec 2019
Place of PublicationMaastricht
Publisher
Print ISBNs9789463805889
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Economic Mobility
  • Social Protection
  • Active Labor Market Policies
  • Impact Evaluations
  • Inequality
  • Thailand

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