Dynamics of Income, Expenditure, and Savings of Thai Households During 2011-2019.

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to study the changes in Thai household income, expenditure, and savings and also to study the comparisons of their changes in regional and urban-rural residential areas. The data was used from the socio-economic household survey project from 2011 to 2019 from the National Statistical Office, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis including mean and rate of change.

The findings of the research showed that the problem of Thai households had an increase of income not able to keep up with an increase of expenditure. The average household income increased by 3.58 percent, while the average household expenditure increased by 8.36 percent. The Bangkok households earned more than households in other regions. The average Bangkok household income was 47,609 baht, which was higher than the national average household income which was at 25,258 baht. Moreover, it was found that every region had an average increasing rate of change at 14.31 percent in consumer expenses; foods, beverages, and tobacco throughout the country, especially Bangkok households had the highest increase of 35.81 percent for consumer expenses. The average increase of non-related consumer expenses in the whole country was 10.82 percent whereas Bangkok households had the highest increase in non-related consumer expenses at 32.89 percent. The average monthly savings of the whole country was 5,856 baht whereas Bangkok households had the highest average savings of 13,988 baht. The households in urban and rural areas also differed in all dimensions including income, expenditure, and savings. Households in urban areas was an average income higher than rural areas at 7,000 baht, 4,000 baht more on average expenditures than those in rural areas, and 2,700 baht more savings than those in rural areas. However, it found that rural households had a greater increase in income, expenditure, and savings than urban households in that time period.