Thailand has made considerable economic advances over recent decades, but progress has slowed over the past several years, notably in productivity growth.
By Philip Hemmings, Jens Arnold, Charles Dennery and Isabella Medina, OECD Economics Department
Sustained gains in labour productivity are essential for lifting output per capita and improving living standards. Yet Thailand has seen a marked slo...
The strongest version of this narrative is that Thailand’s productivity slowdown is a structural issue rooted in regulatory barriers, weak competition, and corruption—all of which stifle innovation and efficiency. The OECD’s data-driven approach lends credibility, framing the problem as solvable through targeted reforms. However, the analysis assumes that deregulation and competition alone will drive growth, which may overlook cultural, educational, or infrastructure constraints. The focus on PM...