IMF warns of soaring interest burdens for Asian governments, recommends Thailand use AI to improve tax collection efficiency

Published 2026-10-20

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a report on the fiscal situation of countries in the Asian region, stating that the interest burden for governments in many countries is trending upward, reaching 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This situation is causing the fiscal policy space for each government to begin to shrink.

For Thailand, the IMF has provided policy recommendations to address these economic challenges, emphasizing the importance of gradual fiscal consolidation to prevent austerity measures from negatively impacting long-term economic growth. The government needs to find ways to increase public revenue in a more sustainable and efficient manner.

One of the interesting proposals is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in managing the country's tax system. The IMF views AI as a key tool that will help increase the efficiency of tax collection, reduce tax evasion gaps, and enable data verification to be more accurate and faster, which will benefit Thailand's fiscal stability in the future.

Furthermore, adopting technology is also considered an adaptation to the digital age that helps reduce government operating costs. Increasing revenue collection efficiency through new innovations will allow the government to have sufficient budget to support various important projects without relying on excessive borrowing.

In summary, the IMF's advice serves as a warning signal that the Thai government must accelerate its adaptation and manage its fiscal affairs with caution. Implementing AI technology will not only help increase government revenue but also build a strong economic foundation capable of weathering future global economic volatility.

Sources: thestandard.co

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