Getting Even with Inequality in Asia

Chulalongkorn University and Oxfam International organized Asia regional conference “Sharing Prosperity – Addressing inequality to achieve SDG-10 in Asia” on 29 – 30 October 2019.  On this occasion, Oxfam International also launched a book titled “Getting even – Public policies addressing inequality in Asia”.  This book is a collection of research papers drawing lessons from economic and social policies that help reduce inequality  in selected  Asian countries.

For Thailand chapter, three noteworthy public policies,  are identified as promoting equalization across income groups, by providing universal access to basic education, healthcare services and old age support. 

The aforementioned policies are 12-year of free quality education introduced in 1999, the Universal Health Coverage Scheme (formerly known as the 30-baht program) which implemented in the early 2002, and the Universal Pension Scheme that initiated in 2009.

These policies played essential roles in reducing inequality in income over the past years, as  evident in the conventional measure, the Gini index.  The Gini index showed a declining trend since the beginning of the new millienium, indicating that the income distribution in Thailand has been improving.

“Getting Even” is an attempt to raise public awareness about what can be done to reduce inequality in the region.  It provides success stories, along with the remaining tasks to achieve  one of the crucial UN’s sustainable development goals, i.e., the SDG-10. 

Book Preview: https://books.google.co.th/books?id=Zt7FDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false