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Structural Transformation — How Does Thailand Compare?

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  • Mr. Vladimir Klyuev

Abstract

Thailand stands out in international comparison as a country with a high dispersion of productivity across sectors. It has especially low labor productivity in agriculture—a sector that employs a much larger share of the population than is typical for a country at Thailand’s level of income. This suggests large potential productivity gains from labor reallocation across sectors, but that process—which made a significant contribution to Thailand’s growth in the past—appears to have stalled lately. This paper establishes these facts and applies a simple model to discuss possible explanations. The reasons include a gap between the skills possessed by rural workers and those required in the modern sectors; the government’s price support programs for several agricultural commodities, particularly rice; and the uniform minimum wage. At the same time, agriculture plays a useful social and economic role as the employer of last resort. The paper makes a number of policy recommendations aimed at facilitating structural transformation in the Thai economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Vladimir Klyuev, 2015. "Structural Transformation — How Does Thailand Compare?," IMF Working Papers 2015/051, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2015/051
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Bank, 2012. "Leading with Ideas : Skills for Growth and Equity in Thailand," World Bank Publications - Reports 2732, The World Bank Group.
    2. Era Dabla-Norris & Giang Ho & Kalpana Kochhar & Annette Kyobe & Robert Tchaidze, 2014. "Anchoring Growth: The Importance of Productivity-Enhancing Reforms in Emerging Market and Developing Economies," Journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 5(02), pages 1-29.
    3. Sra Chuenchoksan & Don Nakornthab, 2008. "Past, Present, and Prospects for Thailand’s Growth: A Labor Market Perspective," Working Papers 2008-07, Monetary Policy Group, Bank of Thailand.
    4. Matsuyama, Kiminori, 1992. "Agricultural productivity, comparative advantage, and economic growth," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 317-334, December.
    5. Margaret S. McMillan & Dani Rodrik, 2011. "Globalization, Structural Change and Productivity Growth," NBER Working Papers 17143, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Agnes Isnawangsih & Mr. Vladimir Klyuev & Ms. Longmei Zhang, 2013. "The Big Split: Why Did Output Trajectories in the ASEAN-4 Diverge after the Global Financial Crisis?," IMF Working Papers 2013/222, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Era Dabla-Norris & Giang Ho & Kalpana Kochhar & Annette Kyobe & Robert Tchaidze, 2014. "Anchoring Growth: The Importance of Productivity-Enhancing Reforms in Emerging Market and Developing Economies," Journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 5(02), pages 1-29.
    8. repec:hoo:wpaper:e-92-3 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Nakarin Amarase & Tosapol Apaitan & Kiatipong Ariyapruchya, 2013. "Thailand's Quest for Economic Growth: From Factor Accumulation to Creative Destruction," Working Papers 2013-02, Monetary Policy Group, Bank of Thailand.
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    Cited by:

    1. Waleerat Suphannachart, 2017. "What Drives Labour Productivity in the Ageing Agriculture of Thailand?," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 7(1), pages 1-6.
    2. Valerie Mueller & Emily Schmidt & Dylan Kirkleeng, 2020. "Structural Change and Women’s Employment Potential in Myanmar," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 43(5), pages 450-476, September.
    3. Sukampon Chongwilaikasaem & Chaleampong Kongcharoen & Nakarin Amarase, 2022. "Relationship between Conflict and Labor Market in the Deep South of Thailand," PIER Discussion Papers 193, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.

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