Three Essays on International Trade Policy:Key Factors of Economic Growth in Thailand

• Main Authors: Padcharee Phasuk, 潘珊莉
• Other Authors: Jong-Wen Wann
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/01107941396795342386

博士 === 國立中興大學 === 應用經濟學系所 === 102 === This study consists of three essays that are (1) Measuring border trade competitiveness of Thailand: application refined index on revealed comparative advantage (RCA), (2) Analysis of key factors in developing alternative international trade policy of Thailand for Joining the ASEAN economic community (AEC), and (3) The impacts of free trade agreement (FTA) on economic growth in Thailand. These studies cover the period from 1995 to 2011. The first essay, intended to discover crucial factors of driving the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) economy and the competitive advantages to develop Thailand policy on cross border trades. The result shown that, Thailand has stronger advantage than the GMS countries for the role as an exporter in crude rubber, petroleum, plastic, iron and steel industries. Thailand role as importer has stronger advantage than China and Vietnam in petroleum, plastic, iron and steel industries. Therefore, international trade position of Thailand has opportunities on the cooperation in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The strategy is to take advantage of trade agreements with neighboring countries. Thailand must adjust to improve the ASEAN production base on both labor and technology, also the development of distribution channels through transportation and logistics in setting new connection in the GMS countries is necessary, to promote participation of all sectors involving visible and tangible policies of the joint study for feasibilities and benefits. Second essay aims to find the key factors affecting economic growth of Thailand and to provide suggestions to the Thai government in international trade policy. The data for analysis is separated by the year (1997) of the Asian financial crisis in order to compare the results in changes of international trade policy. The results of this essay show that the correlation between key factor and international trade policy estimated from the Structural Equation Model (SEM) has a different key factor before and after the Asian financial crisis in 1997, which are the business sector, foreign sector, and government sector. In addition, the government should focus on market share in Asian countries, which foreign direct investment, tariff rate, labor force, export volume, and worker remittance have influence on international trade policy and economic growth. Therefore, Thai government should consider the tariff wall on each product in agriculture sector before having to negotiate under the AEC rules, which could prevent loss of market share in the Asian market. Third essay, later studies the substantial impact of the FTA on the economic factor affecting the growth of Thailand’s economy. Scope of the study of FTA covers the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), ASEAN- China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) and the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). Results suggest that the relationship between Free Trade Agreement (FTA) of Thailand with trade partner affect on economic growth of Thailand, wherewith each relationship was able to identify the situation of Thailand and the role to play in the global market. The ASEAN market should support the sufficient labor force for foreign direct investment in Thailand from abroad, and there is more progress in China''s economic which contribute to increased economic growth of Thailand as well. In terms of trade between Japan and Thailand under JTEPA, it was found that net inflow foreign direct investment and population of Japan has a positive effect on economic growth of Thailand. From above discussion shown that the government policy has affect on economic growth of Thailand to advice the role to play in each market, and as a data base for promoting a strategy of international trade policy for develop a suitable environment of Thailand’s FTA in the future.