ANALYSIS OF THE ELDERLY PENSION POLICY IN THAILAND

Abstract

The elderly pension policy in Thailand is a form of social welfare designed to address the country’s transition into an aged society. Thailand has now fully entered an aged society and is projected to become a super-aged society in the near future. This demographic shift necessitates the development of effective policies to improve the quality of life for elderly citizens, particularly those with low or no income. This academic article aims to examine three key aspects: 1) Examine the effectiveness of the program, 2) Identify key problems and obstacles in its implementation, and 3) Explore strategies for the development of the elderly allowance system. The analysis is conducted within the framework of Van Meter and Van Horn’s implementation theory. The findings reveal that although the policy demonstrates strengths such as clearly defined objectives and local-level administration that facilitates close engagement with citizens, it faces limitations including insufficient allowance amounts relative to the cost of living, limited coverage of eligible recipients, and an increasing fiscal burden. The study also draws comparisons with elderly welfare systems in countries such as France, Japan, and Sweden, with the aim of learning from international practices. Policy recommendations include adjusting allowance rates in line with the cost of living using the poverty line as a benchmark, enhancing administrative efficiency and accessibility, promoting stakeholder participation, establishing continuous monitoring and evaluation systems, encouraging retirement savings, and supporting income-generating opportunities for older persons. These measures aim to make the policy more inclusive, equitable, and sufficient to meet the needs of Thailand’s ageing population.