Abstract:
The study on Factors Influencing Work and Area Selection of Deputy District Officers aims to investigate the behavior of deputy district officers in work and area selection based on the theoretical concept offered by the public choice approach. This approach assorts that any individual make a decision on a premise that it will maximize his own benefits with the least cost. Subjects under investigation are the officers from Ayuthaya Province and the new recruits who are attending the recruitment orientation at the Academy for Government Administration during September 16-27, 1985. The investigation reveals that the behavior of these selected subjects can be summarized as follows: 1. With regard to work preferences. Most Ayuthaya Provinces officers reported that they will choose to work in their present job since it is the job that they understand the most and can do the best. On the other hand, the fresh recruits prefer administration and development job the best and special activity job the second. This is because both jobs can lead to better chances of getting promoted as well as offer a challenging experience. 2. For choice of areas, most Ayuthaya Provinces officers as well as fresh recruits prefer working in their home region. The exceptions are those fresh recruits who live in Bangkok. This group reported that they prefer working in the Northern and the Northeastern Region, respectively. Pertaining to provinces, most Ayuthaya Provinces officers who live in Ayuthaya Province would rather work in this province than others. And for choice of amphurs, with regard to the selection of amphers class, both group of deputy district officers who had lived in developed class such as the first class would select to work in the same class. On the other hand, those who live in underdeveloped class such as the fourth and the fifth class would select to work in the better class. With regard to the risky area-amphurs that located in the Central of Communist Protection and Suppression area, both groups reported no preference. These include not only the ones who are at G.S. 3 and higher but also those with spouse no matter the spouse can or cannot transfer along with that officers when duty station changed. The underlying reason is that most officers prefer the safety areas to the risky ones. 3. With regard to the selection works and areas that offer chances to maximize benefits. Most officers under study would select works and areas on the premise that it will maximized benefits such as income, cost saving, promotion, challenging, and conveniences. The exception is that fresh recruits wouldnt select works and areas which will offer them the most convenience. As a conclusion, this study confirms that the behavior pertaining to works and areas selection of deputy district officers are determined by factors which will lead to benefits in various form. This is consistant with the proposition asserted by the public choice approach.