Associate Professor Witta Dandthamrongkul, Deputy Dean for Strategy and Finance at the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University, has warned that joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is not merely about submitting an application but undergoing a harsh structural reform process. He notes that foreign examples show 7 to 10 years are typically required to overhaul the legal system and eradicate corruption. If Thailand fails to meet governance standards, including issues of justice, corruption, and political scandals, the goal of joining by 2028 will fail, wasting the budget.
He said several government agencies are busy planning and collecting data as per the government’s orders to prepare for Thailand’s assessment to join the OECD. The government’s stated goal is for Thailand to join by 2028. Recently, state agency executives have frequently appeared in the media, discussing the benefits Thailand will gain from joining the OECD and how it will elevate the country. The public hears only positive aspects, such as Thailand advancing to match developed countries in economic, social, political, educational, environmental, and governance standards. However, most people are still confused about how joining the OECD will positively impact the current severe economic issues.
Currently, the OECD consists of 38 countries, many of which refer to it as the “rich club” because over 70% of its members are European countries. In the Asia-Pacific region, only Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand are members. The OECD is a gathering of developed countries with high standards in economics, society, politics, education, living standards, and governance. Thailand is currently at the application submission stage, which has already taken several years. Before submitting an application, a self-assessment is required to ensure eligibility, involving significant budget allocations to hire OECD experts for guidance and training. After meeting the application criteria, Thailand will be assessed by the OECD’s 25 committees, a lengthy and challenging process involving substantial costs with no guarantee of success. Even if Thailand reaches the final stage, it must lobby other member countries for votes.
Associate Professor Witta stated that the government’s directive has led state agencies to work tirelessly on documents with foreign experts, spending large sums of money. This is akin to building a castle without assessing the country’s readiness or the feasibility of meeting governance standards, which have multiple indicators. Key concerns include the quality of laws, their fair enforcement, and an independent judicial process. Thailand has numerous laws but struggles with enforcement, leading to a lack of respect for the law. There are also issues with adequate data disclosure to the public and the quality of state data. The government often cites secrecy or provides insufficient data for public decision-making, even in parliamentary debates. For instance, the AI Passport project, worth over 1.6 billion baht, still lacks clear terms and conditions, and the government has not addressed the scandal.
Associate Professor Witta further discussed accountability, noting that state authorities often resist scrutiny and threaten whistleblowers, undermining public participation, another crucial governance factor. Corruption is a significant failure of Thai governments, as seen in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), where Thailand ranks 116 out of 182 countries with a score of 33 out of 100. Political will to address corruption is lacking, exacerbated by election funding and collusion among officials. The private sector and citizens have become the driving force against corruption due to the lack of serious enforcement by state agencies.
Other issues include conflicts of interest, political transparency, ethical governance, oversight, power balance, and the functioning of independent organizations. These areas also fail to meet OECD standards, with numerous complaints and inadequate government responses. Scandals, such as the oil smuggling case involving a minister and officials, local election fraud, building collapses, police scandals, and political appointments, are often investigated superficially and forgotten.
The worst issue is the manipulation of the Senate, a complex and shocking process that has drawn global criticism. The recent Constitutional Court ruling reflects an attempt to establish a blue regime controlling independent organizations through manipulated senators. Therefore, accountability, fairness, justice, and governance are distant goals. Given that governance is a critical criterion for OECD assessment, Thailand’s numerous unethical practices make it unlikely to pass. The lack of political will to promote governance in all sectors will create more complex problems and potential crises.
The dream of joining the OECD will likely fade with the country’s budget, as meeting even the governance criterion is impossible. The crucial question is not whether Thailand will join the OECD but how the country can become cleaner and more governed. The ultimate question is whether the current government is clean and committed to governance.