The Economic Impact of Demographic Change in Thailand, 1980-2015

Thailand has experienced extraordinary demographic change and record-breaking economic growth during the last few decades. This study uses a recently developed projection model—HOMES, Household Model for Economic and Social Studies—to examine the changes and their continuing implications for six demographically sensitive sectors of the economy: education, health, housing, consumer expenditure, household saving, as well as labor force, employment, and wages. The relationship between demographic change and each of these economic sectors is assessed through extensive analysis of census and survey data collected during the 1980s. The study is a joint effort of the East-West Center's Program on Population, the National Economic and Social Development Board of Thailand, and the Asian Development Bank.