Social Capital, Sustainable Development, and Implications for Public Sector Reform in Thailand

Abstract

This research examines the relationship between social capital and sustainable development, especially, citizens’ participation. The result shows that citizens’ participation increase more cooperation among the citizens in the protection of environment and community resources and enable more access to the basic infrastructures. However, an increase in budget allocation of the local government and the provincial government do not guarantee that such allocation will be used in the community development. In Thailand where public organizations do not hold high public accountability, social capital will be an important factors affecting sustainable development. Thailand’s future Public Sector Reform should aim to increase an importance of citizens’ participation, especially social network among citizens. Such recommendation is in accordance with the paradigm in Public Administration called New Public Governance (NPG).