Badolo, Alphonse. Evaluating policy responses to the economic and Social consequences of fertility decline in Thailand: a Quantitative approach. Master's Degree(Public Policy). Chiang Mai University. Library. : Chiang Mai University, 2569.
Evaluating policy responses to the economic and Social consequences of fertility decline in Thailand: a Quantitative approach
Abstract:
Classic demographic theory perceived that fertility would decline from high levelsand stabilise at the replacement level of around 2.1 children per woman. Nonetheless, nearly half of the world population now lives in a country with a total fertility rate (TFR) below 2.1 children per woman. Meanwhile, in many countries in Asia, including Thailand, fertility is even lower, with a TFR at 1.01.4 births per woman. This study focuses on assessing policy responses to the economic and social consequences of fertility decline in Thailand. It seeks to answer the question: to what extent have fertility policies in Thailand been effective in addressing the countrys declining birth rate, considering the main socioeconomic factors influencing low fertility, and the broader social andeconomic implications? Using a quantitative approach for the analysis, an interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models, as well as the Granger Causality test, were employed. Besides, the study utilises public policy tools like the multiple streams framework (MSF), advocacy coalition framework (ACF), and policy implementation theory to contextualise the findings. The findings show that apart from the tax exemption for prenatal care and child delivery, which exhibited a statistically significant immediate and sustained increase in commitment, policies such as the SSS child allowance scheme and the subsidy for poor families produced weak and negativeeffects. Moreover, in applying the multiple streams framework (MSF), the advocacycoalition framework, and policy implementation theory, policies remained fragmented and insufficiently resourced. It is recommended that the government improve the grant schemes by expanding their coverage to include more eligible families and increasing the transfer values to reflect the real cost of childrearing.