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This thesis examines the dynamics of industrial development in the areas where Thailand borders with neighbouring countries. It argues that the locational advantages approach 'one that focuses on social and economic connections in border towns, government investments, policy measures and the role of export-oriented multinational companies' is not necessarily an appropriate approach. An investigation is conducted to find out to what extent the locational advantages approach applies to Thai border towns. An assessment of the government role in promoting and managing industrial development has also been undertaken to identify the success of this industrial decentralisation scheme. Other factors that contribute to industrial development are also examined. The thesis uses a comparative case study approach, comparing sponsored and non-sponsored towns, and presents four case studies of border towns in Thailand, bordering Myanmar and Laos. This research method provides a better assessment than an internal assessment of government programmes would. The results show that the dynamics of industrial development in Thai border towns is better explained by the production network approach emphasising the embeddedness of small and medium sized local manufacturing industries. The entrepreneurship and social networks of entrepreneurs promote the emergence and growth of industrial development. Horizontal industrial relationships promote flexible operations and compensate for limited access and resources in border towns. In addition, a border location does not by itself stimulate economic link with the neighbouring country because negative perception and regulatory barriers to the crossing of borders hinder mutual cooperation. Due to the discrepancy between government assumptions programmes and the dynamics of industrial development, the survey shows that the impacts of government investments on industrial development are marginal. The thesis concludes that the applicability of the locational advantages approach for industrial development in Thai border towns is limited and that the policy of the government and international agencies should be diverse and should consider other approaches such as a production network approach. Similarly, government programmes should accommodate the needs of small and medium sized manufacturing industries. The role of local government and the private sectors in minimising barriers to the crossing of borders should also be considered.

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published_or_final_version / Law / Master / Doctor of Legal Studies

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The following is a case study of the Northeast Fisheries Project, in Northeast Thailand, carried out jointly by the Canadian International Development Agency, its implementing agency and the Thai Department of Fisheries from 1986 to 1990. The formulation and events surrounding the project will be reviewed, with special emphasis on an experimental extension program which was pivotal to the project's success. Overall, the project did not succeed in meeting its objectives, and the purpose of this study is to examine the role of Thai values, social structure and bureaucracy, in contributing to this failure. Specifically, we will consider Thailand as a 'bureaucratic polity', the history and dynamics of patron-client relationships, and how these factors interact in the context of development projects and programs.

A field survey was conducted in eight villages in Northeastern Thailand to examine the impact of non-farm employment on rice production during the 1994-95 crop year. This study uses the human ecology approach based on the conceptual framework of Duncan's (1959) ecological complex. This study found that participation in non-farm employment directly affects whether the household will produce rice, but its impacts vary according to the extent of participation. Full-time employment, particularly with the yearlong absence of the male head of household, appears to inhibit rice production because it has the potential to cause a critical farm labor shortage. Part-time employment creates opportunities for farmers to integrate both farm and non-farm production to sustain their households. Women and elders have become the principal labor source for their own farms and waged labor for others. The traditional pattern of exchange labor can hardly be practiced when the demand for hired labor exceeds the supply. Waged laborers receive the same pay regardless of age and gender, and employers have no control over the wage rate. The use of machines is increasing. The supply of threshers exceeds demand, but there is a shortage of power-tillers. / However, non-farm employment does not lead to increased levels of farm investment as hypothesized, because a large proportion of waged income was used for other purposes, including daily consumption and debt repayment. Consequently, there is no significant difference in farm productivity (kg. of paddy/unit area) between households with and without participation in non-farm employment. Out-migration to participate in non-farm employment seems inevitable in the face of population growth and land scarcity, but its impacts on rice production vary according to how farmers adapt to the changing resource base and use of modern farm technology. If possible, farmers tend to continue farm and non-farm employment to distribute their risks. However, it is crucial to retain a balance between the types of employment so that the loss of labor does not lead to poor farm productivity nor to production costs that exceed the farm household's means.

The world is flooded with American media products, especially television programs. This study examined how American television viewing affects Thai college students' perception of Thai traditional culture, and how Thai television viewing affects their perception of it.Two hundred sixty-one Thai college students were given a survey in three communication classes at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand during June/July, 2006. Results were analyzed by means of ANOVA with accompanying Scheffe test. The hypotheses were rejected. Hypothesis one stated American television viewing affects Thai collage students' perception of Thai traditional culture negatively. Hypothesis two stated Thai television viewing affects Thai college students' perception of Thai traditional culture positively. / Department of Journalism

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the factors that students considered important in taking distance learning and attitudes of students toward the technology-based distance learning in Thailand. The three main attitude components that were examined in this study were affective, behavioral, and cognitive. The additional components: usefulness, quality, and interaction of technology used in distance learning in Thailand were also examined in this study.Participants of this study were students at Ramkhamhaeng University in Thailand. The questionnaires were used as survey instruments. The questionnaires were distributed by email and paper. Students could complete the questionnaire either by web or by paper. The questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate students around Thailand by staffs of Ramkhamhaeng University. Valid survey responses were received from 307 students; 148 males and 159 females. Based on the analysis of the qualified data, the sample mean scores were significantly higher than the hypothesized mean scores. Students were considered to have positive attitudes toward affective component, behavioral component, and cognitive component. Students also had positive attitudes towards the usefulness, interaction, and quality of technology used in technology-based distance learning in Thailand.The most important factor that students considered in taking distance learning was their work requirements. By gender, male students considered earning more money or getting promoted as their important factor. Female students considered work requirements as their important factor.Students considered most technologies in this study to be useful. However, some students have not had experience with some technologies that they believed were useful. Therefore, institutes and instructors should encourage students to use technologies that universities have currently employed. Institutes should offer training sessions to both instructors and students, so that they can effectively use these technologies in their teaching and learning. / Department of Computer Science

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-238). / Microfiche. / xiv, 238 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm