Evolution and Trends of Fraudulent Practices in Public Sector Recruitment Examination in Thailand

Abstract

               This research aimed to: 1) examine the development of patterns of corruption in the recruitment and selection examinations for public-sector personnel in Thailand; and 2) examine the trends in such corruption patterns. The study employed documentary research based on news reports from 11 reputable online news agencies. Data were analyzed using content analysis and comparative analysis.

               The findings revealed that corruption in public-sector personnel selection examinations in Thailand is a multidimensional problem involving multiple levels and evolving patterns of misconduct. The development of corruption patterns can be classified into four levels: (1) individual-level corruption,  (2) network-based corruption, (3) organizational and procedural corruption, and (4) corruption involving digital systems. These patterns do not necessarily occur in a fixed sequence but may overlap and become interconnected throughout the recruitment and selection process. Regarding future trends, the findings indicate that technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are likely to be increasingly utilized in corrupt practices related to public-sector personnel selection examinations. Corruption is also expected to expand beyond the examination room to encompass data and digital systems, with a growing number of actors potentially becoming involved throughout the entire recruitment and selection cycle.