Mr. santi Bang-or, Deputy secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), said that the Monitoring, Evaluating and Disseminating the Development Division was studying and developing the economic strength indicators with the main objectives of seeking for appropriate definitions, identifying indicators and forming indices.
In the past, the reports on developing situation was quantitative oriented by emphasizing on data and indicators at macro and micro levels such as data in production, financial and monetary sectors. Causes and impacts were analyzed and compared at different periods. New indicators were developed such as quality of life index and various kinds of economic indices. However, the development weaknesses were not clearly identified.
Lacking of the qualitative assessment was reflected in the economic crisis in 1997 where the shrinkage occurred occurred in production, expenditure and investment with the fluctuation of GDP at constant price from 1997 to 2000. This indicated the weakness and instability of economic development, which implied that the qualitative assessment was essential in formulating appropriate policies to tackle problems.
Literatures would be reviewed at both domestic and international levels in order to synticized the concept of economic strength for drawing the guidelines. selection of the appropriate indicators as well as studying the relationship between various variables would be analyzed and the coordination among various divisions in NESDB and concerning agencies would be done to create the common understanding.
The Deputy Secretary-General concluded that the study would be in 5 areas: 1) growth with stability; 2) ability to be self-reliance; 3) creating immunity in the economic system; 4) adjusting to the global change; and 5) economic development with sustainability. Coordination and consulting with the experts and brainstorming seminars would be organized before finalizing the report and publicly disseminating.
Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 16, No. 04 : Aril 2001 End.
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