The Bangkok Economy in 1937/38 Porphant Ouyyanont School of Economics Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Nonthaburi, 11120 Thailand Email address:
[email protected] This paper attempts to sketch the main features of Bangkok (and Thonburi) economy. The year 1937/38 is a major focus period, with a population census of 1937/38 will be consulted. Despite existing published Population Census of 1937/38, surprisingly, none or very few scholars rarely used this source. Through this source, it will shed light the economic basis of Bangkok in the 1930s. Following the introduction with which the background and its reliability of the Census of 1937 is discussed, the paper will provide a brief background of Bangkok’s development in the 1930s, findings of various aspects on economic basis from the Census will be presented, and finally major factors contributing the growth of service sector will be discussed. The Population Census in 1937 as a major source The first nation wide census of Thailand was undertaken in 1909/10, and was published after revisions in 1910/11 and 1911/12. Subsequent censuses were carried out in 1919/20 and 1929/30 before a more elaborate and painstaking exercise in 1937, conducted by the Ministry of Interior. The 1937/38 population census is the first significant census for understanding 2 the economic basis of Greater Bangkok, namely Bangkok and Thonburi.1 It focuses on the exact administrative area of Bangkok and Thonburi rather than Monthon Krungthep (namely Bangkok and its surrounding provinces including Nonthaburi, Pathumthani, Thonburi, and Samut Prakan). Pre-1937 census surveys excluded Bangkok proper especially the inner amphoe (districts) which were under the Ministry of the Capital until 1922.