A recent survey of 73 leading economists found that they thought the Democrat Party's economic policies were generally more feasible than the Pheu Thai Party's policies.
Out of nine selected policies, the Democrats had seven viable policies, while only five policies of Pheu Thai in the same group were considered practical, according to the pollsters at the Research Institute of Bangkok University.The survey was conducted from June 13 to 20 and the results posted on the university's website today.
The 73 unnamed economists - who work for 26 leading organisations in economic analysis and research - were asked to assess and compare a number of policy areas common to both parties.
In the first cluster of policies, the economists believed seven out of the nine Democrat Party's policies were feasible, and five out of the nine policies of the Pheu Thai Party were realistic.
The seven policies of the Democrat Party seen as being feasible were:
1. A minimum wage increase of at least 25 per cent in two years
2. Increase farmers’ profits by 25 per cent under the income insurance scheme for farmers
3. Curbing the problem of the informal and non-bank debts
4. Using a single identification card to receive health care services under the government's universal health care scheme
5. Turn tambon Laem Chabang in Si Racha district of Chon Buri into a “harbour city” with a high speed train link to Bangkok and Rayong.
6. Build a 166-kilometre electric rail link connecting Bangkok with Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan within five years
7. Increase the amount of loans in the program providing soft loans for 250,000 students
Two polices of the Democrat Party seen as not viable were the policy to tackle the illegal drug problem by setting up a new 2,500 anti-drug task force and to ensure public access to the Third Generation (3G) internet connection in every tambon nationwide.
The five viable policies of Pheu Thai were:
1. The rice mortgage program guaranteeing between 15,000 and 20,000 baht per 2,000 liters.
2. To suspend debt repayments for individuals for up to 3 years
3. To "bring back" the 30 baht health care scheme
4. To provide free wi-fi access in public places
5. To base students’ government loan repayments on their current incomes
The four policies of Pheu Thai that the economists thought were impractical were: to raise the daily minimum wage to 300 baht, contain the illegal drug problem within a year, a high-speed train system from Chiang Mai to Rayong (through Nakhon Ratchasima), and expand the Airport Rail Link to Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Pattaya, as well as to increase the electric rail system’s number of lines to 10 and charge passengers a fixed rate of 20 baht per trip.
In the second group of policies, three policies of each of the two parties were assessed by the same group of the 73 economists. They gave the thumbs up to all three policies of the Democrat Party and to two out of the three Pheu Thai policies.
In particular, the economists criticised Pheu Thai’s policy to give “energy credit cards” to the taxi drivers (cabs, samlors, vans and motorcycles) for use in refueling.
According to the survey, the economists thought three policies, two of the Democrat Party and one of Pheu Thai, were equally good and practical.
One of the best policies of the Democrat Party in the economists’ perspectives was the policy to link Bangkok with Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan with a 166km long electric rail route within five years.
The other policy of the Democrats seen as one of the best was the policy to provide a pension to people aged 60 and older using the money from the national savings fund to which the government will be required to contribute.
As for the Pheu Thai Party, the economists thought the rice mortgage policy in which the party has guaranteed to buy unmilled ordinary rice for at least 15,000 baht per 2,000 liters and 20,000 baht per 2,000 liters of Hom Mali unmilled rice.
Although regarded as impractical in those economists’ opinions, Pheu Thai’s policy to bring an end to the illegal drug problem within a year was considered a better choice compared with a similar anti-drug policy of the Democrat Party.
The 3G community internet of the Democrats and the free public wi-fi access of Pheu Thai were both seen by the economists as equally impracticable.
Meanwhile, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) urged voters to consider whether the policies of various political parties can actually be implemented.
NESDB secretary-general Arkhom Termpittyapaisith said on Tuesday that the policies proposed by different parties need massive investment.
"The political parties will experience many budget constraints when they run the administration.
"There is little room for implementing new investment projects because the investment budget accounts about 17 to 18 per cent of the total budget, or 400 billion to 450 billion baht," Mr Arkhom said.
He said the new government should implement a balanced policy among various groups such as the private sector and low income earners.
Political parties should let people know that raising the minimum wage would depend on the role of the tri-party wage committee involving the private and public sectors and employees.
"Various political parties focus their campaigns only on policies that attract voters without educating their voters on the real implementation.
"They should explain how they would implement them.”
He said that political parties should pay attention to basic policies, such as education, public health and environment.
Regarding education policy, the government needs to consider the quality of child development and the quality of education. When the education system is improved, the industrial sector's demand would be met, he said.
Political parties should also focus on the quality of public health services and people's consumption behaviour that can lead to illness.
He said some parties did not mention environmental policies, such as ways to reduce pollution in Bangkok and other major cities and ways to reduce fuel consumption in the transport sector.
He also said parties should propose policies on ways to mitigate potential natural disasters. They don't.
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