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Cultures of Aspiration and Poverty? Aspirational Inequalities in Northeast and Southern Thailand

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  • Laura Camfield
  • Awae Masae
  • J. McGregor
  • Buapun Promphaking

Abstract

The paper provides micro-level evidence of rising inequality in Thailand, using data from an intensive study of seven communities in Northeast and Southern Thailand. This inequality affects participants’ material and subjective wellbeing, their aspirations, and the extent to which they feel these are realised. The paper argues that adaptation, expressed as reduced aspirations, could explain why the effect of material poverty on people’s satisfaction with their lives is small. The reduction in attainment of aspirations linked to socio-economic status suggests that a small, but constant group of people are being excluded from a shift in the societal consensus over what constitutes a good life. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Camfield & Awae Masae & J. McGregor & Buapun Promphaking, 2013. "Cultures of Aspiration and Poverty? Aspirational Inequalities in Northeast and Southern Thailand," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 1049-1072, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:114:y:2013:i:3:p:1049-1072
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0189-3
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