Abstract:
The objective of this thesis is to evaluate changes in tariff rates during 1990-1997 by measuring Nominal Rates of Protection (NRP) and Effective Rates of Protection (ERP), using both scheduled and actual tariff rates. The nominal rates of protection in 1990, 1992, 1995, and 1997 based on scheduled tariff rates were about 40 percent 39.71 percent 18.81 percent and 14:17 percent respectively. The calculation shows that the NRP rates were reduced overtime. The nominal rates of protection based on actual tariff rates were around half of the NRP calculated by using scheduled tariff rates. They were about 15.15 percent 13.58 percent 8.62 percent and 6.92 percent in 1990, 1992, 1995, and 1997 respectively. The effective rates of protection using Balassa's concept and scheduled tariff rates were about 95.52 percent 56.79 percent 23.81 percent and 14.78 percent, whereas ERP rates using Corden's concept were about 53.13 percent 48.28 percent 21.48 percent and 14.73 percent in 1990, 1992, 1995, and 1997 respectively. The effective rates of protection using Balassa's concept based on actual tariff rates were about 32.40 percent 28.33 percent 16.18 percent whereas ERP rates using Corden's concept were about 15.58 percent 13.51 percent 7.65 percent and 6.37 percent respectively. In conclusion, we find that first, high NRP rates of industries do not imply high protection. We need the measurement of ERP to further analyze Thailand's protection system. Second, accroding to ERP measurement, export industries had lower protection than import- competing industries. Third, if the number of tariff rates were to reduce from 30 to 6, the tariff stucture could become more neutralized and efficient.