Graduate Review of Political Science and Public Administration Journal

Agricultural Subsidy Policies and the Challenges to Fiscal Sustainability: Structural Impacts and Long-Term Fiscal Commitments

2025-10-15T16:43:25+07:00

This article aims to analyze the structural impacts and fiscal sustainability challenges arising from Thailand’s long-standing agricultural subsidy policies. The analysis integrates frameworks from public finance, intertemporal budget constraints, and political economy to assess the systemic effects of sustained subsidy measures. The findings indicate that when subsidies lack clear time limits, efficiency-based conditions, and adequate data support, they tend to distort price signals, encourage surplus production, and delay the reallocation of labor and capital toward higher-productivity sectors. These dynamics contribute to rising income inequality, while fiscal burdens and contingent liabilities accumulate over time, undermining fiscal credibility and constraining future public investment capacity. The policy recommendations emphasize a strategic shift from short-term income support toward structural investment, including water and post-harvest infrastructure, quality and standards upgrading for agricultural products, the development of data systems and markets, and the promotion of agricultural technology and innovation. Such measures should be complemented by targeted assistance based on integrated digital databases. In addition, the article proposes the establishment of expenditure ceilings, explicit timeframes with automatic sunset mechanisms, the development of risk-management instruments decoupled from production volumes, and strengthened fiscal discipline and transparency regarding contingent liabilities. These reforms are essential to reducing economic distortions from agricultural subsidies while preserving long-term fiscal stability.

Management of PM2.5 Air Pollution in Thailand: A Case Study on the Effectiveness of Policy Implementation to Improve Population Quality of Life

2025-05-13T11:16:31+07:00

The management of PM2.5 air pollution in Thailand, based on a case study of policy implementation effectiveness for improving people’s quality of life, has two main objectives: 1) to examine the government’s approaches to addressing the PM2.5 problem, and 2) to analyze the effectiveness of policy implementation in mitigating PM2.5 pollution. The scope of the study focuses on government policies and operational measures undertaken by relevant state agencies. The findings reveal that the government’s approaches consist of enforcing multiple measures, such as controlling agricultural burning, preventing and suppressing forest fires, managing transboundary haze, and regulating emissions from the industrial and transportation sectors. Efforts have also been made to advance the Clean Air Bill to establish an integrated framework for air quality management. However, policy implementation continues to face limitations stemming from centralized administrative structures, insufficient regulatory enforcement, and coordination mechanisms that do not align with local contexts. These challenges have resulted in suboptimal effectiveness in controlling and reducing PM2.5 levels. The study further identifies key obstacles, including the mismatch between burning-ban measures and local community lifestyles and constraints, ongoing challenges in transboundary haze management due to the lack of clear enforcement mechanisms, and insufficient economic incentives for the industrial and transportation sectors.

An Indonesian Economic Policy: The Poverty Impact of Nickel Downstream in Mining Regions

2025-03-25T14:27:22+07:00

This study analyzes Indonesia's nickel downstream policy, examining its impact on poverty in mining regions and the challenges associated with implementing it. This study was conducted to address claims that economic improvement stems from the downstream processing of nickel in mining regions. This study uses a mixed-method approach with a sequential explanatory design, combining quantitative and qualitative research. In the quantitative analysis, a panel-data regression with a Random Effects Model is applied, using Cluster-Robust Standard Errors. Meanwhile, in the qualitative analysis, data were analyzed thematically using manual coding of interview transcripts to identify key patterns. The findings indicate that the estimated panel-data regression model shows a relationship between the dependent variable (poverty) and three independent variables: Industrial Management, Life Expectancy, and Literacy Rate. The findings suggest a relationship between the dependent variable (poverty) and three independent variables: industrial management, life expectancy, and literacy rates related to poverty, so that the downstream contribution of nickel from the mining sector is high or positively influential through industrial management aspects; its benefits do not reduce poverty in nickel mining regions.

Diplomatic Psychology: An Analysis of the Failure of Peace Negotiations between China and the United States during the Tenure of Xi Jinping and Donald Trump (2017–2021)

2025-04-23T11:18:53+07:00

This article investigates the failure of peace negotiations between China and the United States during the presidencies of Xi Jinping and Donald Trump (2017–2021), with a particular focus on the role of diplomatic psychology in shaping great power relations. Employing content analysis and international news sources, the study examines the psychological behavior and leadership styles of both leaders within the framework of diplomatic psychology. The findings reveal that the breakdown of negotiations was not solely the result of economic or political disagreements but was significantly influenced by the absence of psychological strategy in diplomacy. Confrontational rhetoric, ideological rigidity, assertive posturing, and unwavering adherence to national interests contributed to diplomatic deadlock. China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the United States’ "America First" policy functioned less as instruments of mutual understanding and more as tools of geopolitical competition. This study highlights the critical importance of incorporating diplomatic psychology into international negotiations to foster mutual understanding, reduce tensions, and design more effective diplomatic communication strategies conducive to long-term peace and stability.

Core Competencies of Chiang Mai University Board Council Members: A Case Study to Improve Oversight and Governance

2025-03-28T09:21:13+07:00

This research aimed to 1) study the core competencies required of university council members for governance at Chiang Mai University, 2) develop a competency model suitable for these members in their roles, and 3) identify strategies for developing council members with the necessary competencies for effective university governance. The study employed a qualitative research design using a case study approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with eight key informants selected via purposive sampling, using an open-ended questionnaire. The informants included distinguished university council members, members of the council's selection committee, university executives, and staff from the Chiang Mai University Council Office. The findings revealed that the core competencies essential for effective performance included 1) vision, 2) accountability, 3) strategic thinking, and 4) an understanding of the higher education system. The expected competency level for individuals serving as university council members was set at Level 5, the highest level. Strategies for developing council members with the necessary competencies for university governance were categorized into two groups. The first group focused on distinguished university council members and included measures such as creating manuals outlining the roles and responsibilities of council members to enhance their understanding of the governance framework in higher education institutions. The second group targeted other types of council members through activities such as orientation programs and participation in training and seminars.