Thailand needs to raise revenue, World Bank says

Thailand must bolster its revenue collection in the long term to meet growing public spending needs stemming from an aging population, the World Bank said yesterday.

Government expenditure on pensions, healthcare, education and climate adaptation would need to increase, and this must be achieved without constraining economic growth and keeping public debt under control, the bank said in a report on Thailand’s public revenue and spending.

“Thailand can achieve a more equitable and resilient economy by improving the efficiency of public spending, raising revenues, and implementing policies to support the most vulnerable and respond to climate-related challenges,” World Bank country manager for Thailand Fabrizio Zarcone said in a statement.

The bank recommends a series of progressive tax reforms that could collectively increase revenues by 3.5 percentage points of GDP for Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. These include raising the value-added tax rate and removing exemptions, broadening the personal income tax base and streamlining allowances and deductions, and expanding property tax collection.

“If implemented gradually over the rest of this decade, these reforms would promote equity while providing the revenue needed to fund increased spending,” World Bank said. “Negative impacts on the poor could be offset by social assistance reforms, while still achieving substantial net revenue gains.”

Thailand’s public debt has risen to more than 60 percent from about 40 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic after the nation ramped up borrowing to tackle the virus and fund stimulus measures. State debt could further balloon as the coalition of pro-democracy parties that won the May 14 election on a litany of freebies and cash handouts might need to borrow more to fund their promises.

While public debt has risen due to pandemic response measures, overall fiscal risks remain manageable, the World Bank said, adding that in the near term the government can afford to increase spending on public infrastructure and other priority areas by consolidating spending elsewhere.