Economy

Recent decades have seen a downward convergence in corporate tax regimes as advanced, emerging and developing economies moved to grab a bigger slice of the global investment pie. Headline corporate tax rates have fallen by 20 percentage points since the early 1980s. Alongside lower average rates, special tax incentives aimed at capturing investment...

Perhaps more than any other emerging ASEAN market, Thailand has succeeded in crafting a coherent blueprint for adaptation to the rapid technological advancements that are transforming lifestyles and professions in very profound ways. In 2016 the government unveiled Thailand 4.0, an overarching vision that aims to develop a vibrant digital economy...

Since coming to power after the military coup of May 2014 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has repeatedly reaffirmed the government’s intention to lead Thailand back towards democratic rule. The general elections are now expected to take place in May 2019. While the election date has been postponed before, the convergence of key factors may...

Following the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October 2016, a major chapter in the history of the kingdom closed and another opened. With His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun now on the throne, the way ahead promises to be one of further development, with an active monarch as head of state. Meanwhile,...

The baht was one of the best-performing currencies in South-east Asia in 2017, making significant gains against the US dollar as macroeconomic recovery continued and foreign investment surged. A strong baht is a double-edged sword for trade and investment stakeholders, however, as some predict that Thai exporters will be negatively impacted in...