Thailand has come a long way and represents an impressive development story: it has drastically reduced the number of poor people from nearly 70% of the population in 1986 to 11% in 2013 and its economy grew at an average annual rate of 7.5% in the late 1980s and early 1990s, creating jobs that helped pull millions of people out of poverty.

However, challenges remain as there are still 11% – 7 million – of the population living below the poverty line, and another 7 million or so who remain highly vulnerable to falling back into poverty. Although inequality has declined over the past 30 years, the distribution in Thailand remains unequal compared with many countries in East Asia. Significant and growing disparities in household income and consumption can be seen across and within regions of Thailand, with pockets of poverty remaining in the Northeast, North, and Deep South. Today, the Thai economy faces headwinds, and growth has been modest. Export competitiveness is sliding, and a severe drought is expected to weigh on off-season rice production. Poverty is expected to continue to fall at a slower rate, with poor households concentrated in rural areas affected by falling agricultural prices. The country is now at a critical time since the new draft constitution won approval by a majority.

“What do you hope for Thailand’s future?” was a question we asked Thai youth earlier this year as part of the World Bank’s nationwide engagement process in developing the  Systematic Country Diagnostics for Thailand, a study that aims to identify development priorities to end extreme poverty and share prosperity widely.

Apart from a series of public engagement meetings with stakeholders from local government agencies, civil society, NGOs, academia and the private sector, we also kicked off a special way to gather the views of Thailand’s younger generation and to encourage them to be part of the dialogue on what they hope for the country.
 
A ‘Wall of Hope’ backdrop was set up at universities in Bangkok, Pattani, and Chiang Mai, and a public space in Udon Thani, to gather and ensure voices from different regions were included.  More than 500 Thai youths were asked to write down on a postcard their own personal views on what they think are Thailand’s development priorities.

Their responses and concerns covered a vast array of development issues that the country is already working on. What the youth mentioned offers  perspective and brings to the spotlight several challenges that remain dominant in the minds of many across the country, such as access to quality education, reconciliation across social and political divisions and an effective law, justice and democracy, human rights and equality.  
 

Differences between rural and urban youth

In Bangkok: Living in the capital city, a majority of youth hope, first and foremost, to see true reconciliation across social and political divisions. Seeing their conviction for significant change and that the country and its people will be stronger together was incredibly inspirational.

“I hope Thai people…

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