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Digital Fiscal Stimulus and SMEs: Insights from Thailand's Half and Half Program

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  • Athiphat Muthitacharoen
  • Athiphat Muthitacharoen

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Thailand's 'Half and Half' program on SMEs. Designed to boost spending on small food vendors, the program distributes subsidies via a digital platform, granting consumers a fixed-percentage copay on every eligible purchase. I employ a difference-in-difference approach using weekly province-level data from LINE MAN Wongnai. I find that the program significantly elevates sales among participating vendors relative to non-participants. Regarding the underlying mechanism, the findings indicate that the increase in sales is primarily driven by an expansion in the unique customer base, rather than an increase in individual order sizes. Crucially, these positive effects persist even after the program’s conclusion, with smaller vendors experiencing more pronounced sustained benefits. This investigation enriches the emerging literature on digital fiscal stimulus, underlining their potential for both immediate and sustained economic impact. The findings bear crucial implications for policymakers navigating fiscal strategies in an increasingly digital economic landscape.

Suggested Citation

  • Athiphat Muthitacharoen & Athiphat Muthitacharoen, 2023. "Digital Fiscal Stimulus and SMEs: Insights from Thailand's Half and Half Program," CESifo Working Paper Series 10711, CESifo.
  • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10711
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nawal Abdalla Adam & Ghadah Alarifi, 2021. "Innovation practices for survival of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the COVID-19 times: the role of external support," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Atif Mian & Amir Sufi, 2012. "The Effects of Fiscal Stimulus: Evidence from the 2009 Cash for Clunkers Program," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 127(3), pages 1107-1142.
    3. Díez, Federico J. & Duval, Romain & Maggi, Chiara, 2022. "Supporting SMEs during COVID-19: The case for targeted equity injections," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    4. Athiphat Muthitacharoen & Krislert Samphantharak & Sommarat Chantarat, 2019. "Fiscal stimulus and debt burden: evidence from Thailand’s first-car-buyer tax rebate program," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 26(6), pages 1383-1415, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fiscal stimulus; digital platform; SME;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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