World Bank advises Thailand to develop 'secondary cities' to distribute prosperity and reach high-income status
The World Bank has issued a key recommendation for Thailand to overcome the middle-income trap, proposing a shift in the country's development model from relying solely on Bangkok to adopting a 'multi-polar city system' to create more sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Currently, Bangkok serves as the country's only economic hub, which has led to inequality and the concentration of resources. The World Bank suggests that developing secondary cities in various regions—ensuring they are equipped with infrastructure, transportation, and job creation—will help alleviate the burden on the capital and attract new investments to other areas.
Transitioning to a multi-polar city system will provide people in provincial areas with better economic opportunities without the need to migrate to Bangkok for work, which will simultaneously help reduce traffic and environmental issues in the capital. Furthermore, distributing prosperity will strengthen local economies and enable them to become self-reliant in the long term.
For this plan to succeed, the government needs to invest in public transportation systems that connect secondary cities with major hubs, as well as encourage the private sector to invest more in the regions. Improving regulations to facilitate local business operations is considered a key factor in transforming secondary cities into the new engine of the Thai economy.
In conclusion, the World Bank's proposal is a challenging yet vital path for Thailand's future. If the government can successfully implement this policy, Thailand will have a concrete opportunity to become a high-income country and reduce social inequality.