Thailands Women Development Plan Under the 10th Economic and Social Development Plan for 2007-2011 - Capstone Project Example

An Evaluation of Thailand’s Women Development Plan Under the 10th Economic and Social Development Plan for 2007-2011 Focus on Policy Strategy in Fostering Women’s Economic Participation Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1. Statement and Significance of problems The Progress Report on Women’s Development Plan (2006) included in the 9th National Economic and Social Development Plan or NESDP (2002-2006) indicated that Thai women worked side by side with men in the country’s economic development specifically in nurturing the family unit to contribute significantly in economic development (p.2). In particular, they play crucial roles in caring for the young and elderly members of the family. However, enforcing gender equality in the employment sector has been found to be ineffective in the implementation of ESDP. Compared to men, Thai women were found to have lower wages, unskilled, and enjoy a very unstable, lower or no work benefits at all (p. 3). As a result, Thai women, particularly the poor and the disadvantaged, face higher risk of threats on moral and physical aspects. Poor performance to health related issues is one of the direct manifestations of these threats. The increasing trend of single families headed by Thai women led them to take on the roles of household heads in Thai family units (p.3). This issue as well as an anticipated 14Million additional elderly Thai population poses higher responsibility to Thai women who in recent years had increased their numbers in the formal employment sector. Due to these factors, the Thai Royal Government has specifically included in its policy strategy for women development under the 10th NESDP (2007-2011) to foster women’s economic participation as one of the means to strengthen the support of Thai society for women’s rights. Women’s full integration into the formal economy and full involvement in decision making are the measures of their economic participation in Thai society. Specific strategies under the 10th NESDP must address the following economic inequality between genders: (a) elimination of unequal pay, (b) enhancement of opportunities for education and (c) enhancement of opportunities for employment (p. 7). It has been approximately two years now since these strategies were planned and expectedly implemented by the Thai Government with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security taking the lead in its implementation through its Office on Women’s Affairs and Family Development in coordination with other government offices and stakeholders. Evaluating the progress made by this policy strategy in the first two years of its implementation particularly in eliminating gender inequality in economic opportunities and benefits is important to assess what actions to implement in order to correct or enhance specific strategies to intensify the accomplishments of its overall goal of enforcing economic participation of Thai women at the end of the five y ear implementation of the 10th NESDP. 1.2. Research Questions The central research question of the dissertation is: Is there a significant accomplishment in the implementation of the strategies adapted in women’s development plan under the 10th NESDP to enforce the economic participation of women in Thailand? The following are the specific research questions of the dissertation: a. Has there been a sizeable integration of women into the formal economy compared in the last five years prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP? b. Have there been a sizeable number of women that were involved in decision making compared in the last five years prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP? c. Has there been a concrete result in the strategy to eliminate inequality of pay between genders compared in the last five years prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP? d. What are the concrete improvements in the opportunities for education of women in the first two years of the implementation of women’s development plan in the 10th NESDP? e. What measures were implemented to enhance the employment of women in the first two years of implementation of the women development plan under the 10th NESDP? f. What is the economic value of the economic participation of women as well as the cost of their exclusion? 1.3. Research Objectives The following the research objectives in parallel with the research questions of the dissertation. a. To compare the status of integration of women into the formal economy prior and two years after the implementation of the 10th NESDP. b. To evaluate the involvement of women in economic decision making compared with their involvement prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP. c. To evaluate the status of eliminating inequality of work payment between genders in comparison to its status prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP. d. To identify concrete improvements in the opportunities for education of women in the first two years of the implementation of women’s development plan in the 10th NESDP. e. To identify measures implemented to enhance the employment of women in the first two years of implementation of the women’s development plan under the 10th NESDP. f. To evaluate the economic value of women’s economic participation and identify the cost of their exclusion. 1.4. Scope of Study The dissertation will cover the evaluation of the strategy of enforcing economic participation of women stipulated in women’s development plan in the 10th NESDP. The evaluation will be conducted using the scope of Mazmanian and Sabatier’s policy theory of implementation. 1.5. Limitation The analysis of the dissertation will be limited to the available data from government offices and other relevant macro level institution for the first two years of implementation of the women’s development plan under the 10th NESDP. The data for comparison prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP will be limited to official statistics compiled as of year 2006. 1.6. Definition of Terms The following are the terms that will be constantly used in the dissertation. a. Women’s Development Plan is the policy framework followed by Thailand under the National Economic and Social Development Plan. It is a continuous five year development plan that is constantly enhanced at the end of every five years. The Women Development Plan being mentioned in the dissertation covers the years 2007 to 2011. b. 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan or 10th NESDP is the policy framework of Thailand that outlines the policy direction followed by the government for the economic and social sectors where women are a major participant. c. Formal economy refers to economic activities that are legally monitored and recognized by the government. d. Economic decision making refers to the ability to be involved in decisions related to management and financial making decisions within the family unit and employment sector. e. Work payment refers to the salary or wages earned in the provision of employment service. f. Economic value is the computed amount of earnings or production contributed by women to the economic performance of the Thailand. g. Cost of exclusion is the earnings or production forgone from the economy whenever women do have economic participation in the country. 1.7. Benefits of the Study The results of the dissertation will be useful reference for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, development funding agencies and other stakeholders to assess the midterm implementation of the strategy of focusing women’s economic participation under the women’s development plan of the 10th NESDP. It can help these stakeholders in improving the activities being implemented under this specific strategy. It will also help identify areas for expansion for improving the economic participation of women in Thai society. Chapter 2 Review of Literature and Conceptual Framework The review of literature focuses on the following four aspects: (a) gender’s role in economic development, (b) Thailand’s economic growth, (c) Thailand’s women development plan and (d) policy theory of implementation. Research findings, reports and other official documents or information from relevant Thai government agencies, funding institutions and development institutions are reviewed to help develop a conceptual framework for the dissertation. 2.1. Implications of Gender Equality in Economic Development Dollar, D. and Gatti, R. (1999) supported the general statement that women’s status in developing countries is poorer compared to that of developed countries (p. 20). Women have generally lesser access to education and have weaker economic rights compared to men. Their study showed that inequality between genders has a negative effect to a country’s economic growth particularly to developing countries. Consequently, an increase in capita income was consistently linked with gender equality which suggests that nationwide policies supporting economic growth directly contributes to equality between genders (p. 21). Thus, governments have to invest in women’s development to ensure continuous economic growth and improvement the capability of its population to generate income. The survey conducted by Stotsky, G. (2006) supports the conclusion derived by Dollar and Gatti (1999) wherein it concluded that the reduction in inequality between genders particularly empowering women leads to higher economic growth and stability in macroeconomic situation of a country. Consequently, the lack of opportunities for women in developing countries limits its economic growth. Pointing macroeconomic policies towards higher economic opportunities for women affects their behaviors in terms of “consumption, savings, and investment” (p.48) which greatly affects macroeconomic aggregate outcomes leaning towards benefits to economic growth. The result of the empirical analysis of Braunstein, E. (2002) on gender and foreign direct investment as well as women’s autonomy also correlates with the results of the above literature wherein it found that women’s wages improved due to international wage standard set by foreign direct investments mostly from multi-national companies. However, this increase might affect women’s autonomy when these companies seek lower cost by resorting to labor contracting reducing formal employment. 2.2. Thailand’s Economic Development The economic growth of Thailand from 1986 to 1996 has been considered one of the highest in Asia with 10% annual growth in gross domestic product redounding to higher per capita income (Shetty, S. et al, 1996). Prudent macroeconomic and sectoral policies contributed to such robust economic growth. Although, its economy was badly affected by the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Thailand was able to rebound from its losses by implementing economic measures geared to safeguard its economic pace. Thus, it is one of the few countries in Asia that effectively countered the devastating effect of the crisis. The Social Investment Project or SIP funded by World Bank is a result of the move of the Thai Royal Government to protect its economy by having the necessary funds to continuously support its economic and social projects for the population of Thailand (World Bank, April & June 1998). In its completion report, evaluators from World Bank rated as satisfactory the performance of all the components or sectors funded by the funds for the SIP which include training programs for women to help them access gainful employment (World Bank, 2005). Government policies and subsequent implementation of government agencies were identified as key factors in helping the SIP achieve its objectives. True enough the SIP was a good stimulus to counter the negative effects of the Asian financial crisis. As a result Thailand quickly made a turn around on its economic growth which has become a best practice among other Asian countries. 2.3. Thailand’s Women’s Development Plan under NESDP Issues of women particularly on gender equality has become a national policy of Thailand through its 20 year plan for the development of women under the Perspective Policies and Planning for the Development of Women or PPPDW (International Labour Organization, 2005). The plan’s provisions are being integrated into the five year NSEDP wherein a separate women development plan is provided. Thus, programs for women are given budget allocation by the national government and are mandated to be implemented by national government offices and the local government units. These plans incorporated programs and strategies that encourage women’s participation in the development of society specifically economic participation (International Labour Organization, 20005 & Gender Website of Government of Thailand, n.d.). Women’s development plan under the 9th NESDP covering the period 2002 to 2006 has been adapted in line with the obligations of the Royal Government of Thailand to many conventions of the United Nations that it participated (Gender Website of the Government of Thailand, n.d.). It seeks to pursue gender equality as supported by Thailand’s Constitution (1997 & 2007 as cited in Gender Website of the Government of Thailand, n.d.). The 10th NSEDP recognized that the behavior of society towards gender has been an obstacle to the advancement of Thai women. Thus, it seeks to change Thai society’s behavior on gender equality at the same time enhancing the capability of women to participate in the development of society. Focusing on the economic participation of women in society is one of the salient policy strategies planned by the Thai government to achieve the goals of the 10th NSEDP. Joint participation of stakeholders such as the Government, non-government institutions or NGOs, civil society, women’s institutions and financial institutions are recognized by the 10th NESDP as crucial in delivering specific activities to implement these strategies. Training, technical assistance, development of contact system, and sustainable financial support are the specific interventions identified to promote entrepreneurship and productive self employment for Thai women particularly in the informal and agricultural sectors where gender economic inequalities are evidently seen (Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, p.8). Research to establish the economic value of women’s participation and the cost of their exclusion was identified as a way to monitor the accomplishment of gender equality in the economic sector. Recognition and support of women entrepreneurs, corporations friendly to women and businesses who show corporate social responsibility is another way to encourage women participation in the economy. 2.4. Policy Theory of Implementation Mazmanian and Sabatier (1981, cited by Winter, S., 2006) developed a policy implementation composed of three sectors necessary in charge of the implementation of the policy process namely the context of legislation, social and political groups. Legislation is in charge of structuring the process of implementation of the policy or program. Variables involved in this structuring process include hierarchy or incentive. Lipsky, M. (1980, cited by Wong, 2007, p. 2) introduced the concept of street level bureaucrats who are the front liners in charge in the implementation of programs or policies mandated by legislation or higher political offices. However, Mazmanian and Sabatier’s policy implementation theory is criticized to have ignored the “politics of policy-formulation and policy design” (Winter, 2003 cited by Winter, 2006, p. 153). Also, there is a gap between the mandates of legislation, supervisors and citizens and the ability of street level bureaucrats to comply with it given their numerous workloads. Thus, policy evaluation should take into account this perspective as well as other issues that are not inputted in the legislative, political and social structuring of the implementation of policy and programs. 2.5. Program Evaluation Dwight, D. (1990) defined evaluation as a systematic research that assess the planning, design, implementation and effectiveness of programs geared at creating social interventions (p. 35). Initiation, development, stability and dissemination are the four stages of the cycle of the life of a program (Trochim, W., 2007, p. 5-6). Every program has a different manner and sequence of implementing these phases. A program can revert to its earlier stages if the result of the evaluation finds flaws in its inception or structure thus affecting its movement towards the phase of stability. This is evident in the evolutionary outlook of programs wherein change in the program’s implementation is created as deemed necessary based on the results of evaluation. Specific evaluation differs at every program phase. Evaluation during the initiation phase focus on the provision of immediate feedback on the process and implementation within that stage. Development stage must focus its evaluation on conducting observation and assessment of the changes that occur within that particular stage compared to status during the initiation stage. The maturity stage focuses on a more structured qualitative approach wherein experimental design of evaluation is adopted. During this phase performance of the program is compared with standard performance expectation. Finally, the dissemination stage focuses program evaluation on consistency of performance of the program in different situations. (Trochim, 2007, p. 7). 2.6. Conceptual framework The following conceptual framework is developed based on the concepts and theories discussed in the review of literature. aa Thailand’s women development plan as included in the 10th NSEDP is a combined function of women’s economic participation in society and the implementation of policy strategies to ensure that such participation. The result of these processes is to achieve change in the behavior of society on gender equality particularly in seeing that women are equal with men in terms of contribution to the economy of the country. These processes lead to economic growth which means that women’s participation in the economy is crucial to achieve this. However, to be able to ensure the achievement of economic growth the implementation of women’s development plan must be evaluated from the initiation stage to development stage to stability stage. Comparison of its performance within these stages must be evaluated to determine how far the specific strategies designed under the women’s development plan achieved its overall policy strategy of ensuring the full economic participation of women in society. It is only when women’s participation are successfully integrated into the economy that society can start to change its attitude towards equality between men and women’s capability to contribute to the economic growth of the country. Thus, it is crucial that program evaluation be conducted to ensure that the direction of the implementation of women’s development plan is geared towards the overall strategy of ensuring economic participation of women. This conceptual framework runs in parallel with the research objectives and research questions of the dissertation. Items a to c of the research questions and research objectives evaluates the program’s performance and success in terms of achieving economic participation of women in the first two years of the plan’s implementation which is within the development and stability phase of the program’s implementation. Items d and e of the research questions and research objectives track the concrete achievements of the specific strategies in improving educational and employment opportunities of women which is a big factor to ensure their economic participation. Item f of the research questions and research objectives evaluate the impact to Thailand’s economic growth of women’s economic participation. Chapter 3 Research Methodology 3.1. Qualitative Method The study follows a qualitative approach to data gathering using the research questions and conceptual framework as basis in designing the research instrument for the gathering of data. Greene, J. (1994) pointed out that qualitative methods rely heavily on “interactional, adaptive, and judgmental abilities” (p. 538) of the researcher. This approach will be followed in this dissertation through the different qualitative methods of data gathering. 3.1.1. Documentary Research Document review will be conducted for each variable indicated in the conceptual framework in parallel with the research questions of the dissertation. Reports and aid memoirs from relevant national and provincial agencies, NGOs, development funding agencies, and other stakeholders will be reviewed during documentary research. Review of statistics will also be conducted particularly those pertaining to the number of women integrated into the formal economy and involved in decision making as well as the number of those who were included in technical trainings to improve the opportunity of women in education and employment. 3.1.2. Participant Observation Observation of women participants to trainings and other interventions stipulated in the women’s development plan to implement the policy strategy of enforcing economic participation of women will be conducted to assess how well they have benefited as well as apply the learning they have from these training and technical programs. Observation of the manner of implementation of street level bureaucrats in organizations front lining the implementation of policy strategies related to women’s economic participation in society. 3.1.3 Participation The researcher will immerse in the situation of the street level bureaucrats as well as beneficiaries of the training and technical assistance programs for women while collecting and analyzing data. This will allow the researcher to directly work with them, share their thinking and empathy towards the project and the beneficiaries and vice versa. Thus, researcher will do of “on the job training” with these organizations to be able to experience what the street level bureaucrats are experiencing with their jobs as well as mingle with beneficiaries. 3.1.4 Focus group Focus group discussions will be conducted inviting representatives from the top management policy implementers and street level bureaucrats from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Labor, regional or provincial offices, and NGOs. A separate focus group discussion will be conducted for two types of selected beneficiaries namely those that (a) have already been successfully immersed into the formal economy after the provision of training and technical assistance, and (b) those that have not been integrated yet into the formal economy even after the provision of training and technical assistance. Questions will be asked by the researcher during the focus group discussion wherein answered derived from the discussion will be analyzed during data analysis. 3.1.5 In-depth Interview An in depth interview will be conducted using an open ended questionnaire that incorporate the research questions and the conceptual framework in the design of the questions to be asked to the interview respondents. Information to be gathered focuses more on the changes that occurred between the initiation stage and stability stage of the implementation of the specific strategies to enforce economic participation of women. Problems encountered and perceptions on how effective are the interventions or stimulus provided to ensure economic participation of women will be crucial information to be asked to the respondents that will be comprised of street level bureaucrats, top management and women beneficiaries. Suggestions for improvement in the implementation of the policy strategies to meets its overall goal of enforcing economic participation of women will also be asked by the researcher. 3.1.6 Population and Samplings In depth interview of beneficiaries will have at least 100 sample populations. In-depth interview of key informants from top management implementers and street level bureaucrats will have a minimum and maximum sample population of 25 and 50. At least two to three representatives from funding agencies that directly handles loan agreements in implementation of strategic policy on women development will be conducted. Ten focus group discussions will be conducted with minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 participants each scattered throughout the selected regional areas where technical and training programs for women were implemented by the national and provincial governments. 3.1.7 Analysis Method Inductive analysis will be used in the analysis method wherein analysis is generated from the smaller spectrum towards the bigger spectrum. Selection of samples will be done using random sampling using database from the above offices. 3.2. Data Collection The data will be collected from selected regional areas and offices wherein training and technical assistance for women’s economic participation under the 10th NSEDP operates. The following are the detailed timeframe for data collection. Qualitative data Where to find Timeframe Documentary research Official reports, evaluation, research and data base from funding agencies, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Labor, regional or provincial offices, and NGOs 45 days Onsite observation -do- 45 days Onsite participation -do- 45 days Focus group discussion -do- beneficiaries 10 days In depth interview -do- 45 days Sampling selection and contact -do- 5 days Analysis -do- 15 days 3.3. Data Analysis Evaluative as well as descriptive analysis will be used to analyze the data collected from sample population. Although, qualitative method of data gathering will be conducted wherein data analysis will be based on the research questions formulated which require an assessment of responses as well as comparison and contrast. Statistical tools will be used to aid the analysis of data particularly the use of standard deviation. 3.4. Data Reliability and Validity Reliability and validity of data will be ensured by gathering secondary data from official documents and statistics from government offices and other stakeholders only. Source of primary data information will be validated from these offices particularly in interviewing women beneficiaries. List of population where the samples for interview and focus group discussion will be selected must come from the list of government offices to ensure that no outliers participate in the process of data gathering. References Braunstein, E. (April 2002). Gender, FDI, and Women’s Autonomy: A Research Note on Empirical Analysis. Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Davis, D. (1990). Do You Want A Performance Audit or a Program Evaluation?. Public Administration Review, January/February, p.35-41. Dollar, D. & Gatti, R. (May 1999). Gender Inequality, Income, and Growth: Are Good Times Good for Women?. Policy Research Report on Gender and Development Working Paper, No. 1. The World Bank Development Research Group/Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network,. Washington, D.C. Gender Website of the Government of Thailand (n.d.). Women’s Development Plan in the Ninth National Economic and Social Development Plan (2002-2006) [Internet] Accessed at http://www.gender.go.th/eng/policy/women_develop.htm on 25 December 2008. Gender Website of the Government of Thailand (n.d.). The 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan [Internet] Accessed http://www.gender.go.th/eng/policy/national_econs.htm on 25 December 2008 Gender Website of the Government of Thailand (n.d.). Strategic Intervention for Promotion of Gender Equality: The 1997 and 2007 Constitution [Internet] Accessed at http://www.gender.go.th/eng/policy/strategic.htm on 25 December 2008. Greene, J. C. (1994). Qualitative program evaluation, practice and promise. In Denzin N.K. and Lincoln, Y. (Ed.), Handbook of qualitative research. International Labour Organization (2005). Government Programmes in Thailand-National Commission on Women’s Affairs [Internet] (Updated 2 September 2005) Accessed at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/program/thailand/gp_ncwa.htm on 24 December 2008. Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (2007). Women’s Development in the Tenth National Economic and Social Development Plan (2007-2011). Bangkok, Thailand. Shetty, S., Subbarao, K., Tzannatos, Z., Rudra, K. & Poshyananda, T. ((December 1996). Thailand Growth, Poverty and Income Distribution: An Economic Report. Report No. 15689-TH, The World Bank, East Asia and Pacific Region. Stotsky, J. (October 2006). Gender and Its Relevance to Macroeconomic Policy: A Survey. Working Paper. International Monetary Fund. Trochim, W. (2007). Evolutionary Perspective in Evaluation: Theoretical and Practical Implications. Eastern Evaluation Research Society. The World Bank (2005, February 15). Report No. 30237: Implementation Completion Report on a Loan in the Amount of US$300 Million to Thailand for a Social Investment Project. Washington, D.C. The World Bank (April 1998). Report No. PID 7979: Thailand-The Social Investment Project. Washington, D.C. The World Bank (1998, 15 June). Report No. 17785 TH: Project Appraisal Document on a Proposed Loan in the Amount of US$ 300 Million to the Kingdom of Thailand for a Social Investment Project. Washington, D.C. Winter, S.(2006). Chapter 8, Handbook of Public Policy Compiled by Peters, G.B & Pierre, J., Sage Publications, London Wong, W. (2007). Report on Micheal Lipsky’s Street Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the Individual in Public Services. Read More

The following are the specific research questions of the dissertation: a. Has there been a sizeable integration of women into the formal economy compared in the last five years prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP? b. Have there been a sizeable number of women that were involved in decision making compared in the last five years prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP? c. Has there been a concrete result in the strategy to eliminate inequality of pay between genders compared in the last five years prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP? d. What are the concrete improvements in the opportunities for education of women in the first two years of the implementation of women’s development plan in the 10th NESDP? e. What measures were implemented to enhance the employment of women in the first two years of implementation of the women development plan under the 10th NESDP? f. What is the economic value of the economic participation of women as well as the cost of their exclusion? 1.3.

Research Objectives The following the research objectives in parallel with the research questions of the dissertation. a. To compare the status of integration of women into the formal economy prior and two years after the implementation of the 10th NESDP. b. To evaluate the involvement of women in economic decision making compared with their involvement prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP. c. To evaluate the status of eliminating inequality of work payment between genders in comparison to its status prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP. d. To identify concrete improvements in the opportunities for education of women in the first two years of the implementation of women’s development plan in the 10th NESDP. e. To identify measures implemented to enhance the employment of women in the first two years of implementation of the women’s development plan under the 10th NESDP. f. To evaluate the economic value of women’s economic participation and identify the cost of their exclusion. 1.4.

Scope of Study The dissertation will cover the evaluation of the strategy of enforcing economic participation of women stipulated in women’s development plan in the 10th NESDP. The evaluation will be conducted using the scope of Mazmanian and Sabatier’s policy theory of implementation. 1.5. Limitation The analysis of the dissertation will be limited to the available data from government offices and other relevant macro level institution for the first two years of implementation of the women’s development plan under the 10th NESDP.

The data for comparison prior to the implementation of the 10th NESDP will be limited to official statistics compiled as of year 2006. 1.6. Definition of Terms The following are the terms that will be constantly used in the dissertation. a. Women’s Development Plan is the policy framework followed by Thailand under the National Economic and Social Development Plan. It is a continuous five year development plan that is constantly enhanced at the end of every five years. The Women Development Plan being mentioned in the dissertation covers the years 2007 to 2011. b. 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan or 10th NESDP is the policy framework of Thailand that outlines the policy direction followed by the government for the economic and social sectors where women are a major participant. c. Formal economy refers to economic activities that are legally monitored and recognized by the government. d. Economic decision making refers to the ability to be involved in decisions related to management and financial making decisions within the family unit and employment sector. e. Work payment refers to the salary or wages earned in the provision of employment service. f. Economic value is the computed amount of earnings or production contributed by women to the economic performance of the Thailand. g. Cost of exclusion is the earnings or production forgone from the economy whenever women do have economic participation in the country. 1.7.

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