Evaluation of Current Situation of Bribery and Corruption in Thailand Perceptions of Government Officials and Ordinary Citizens to the Situation MPP Professional Paper In Partial Fulfillment of the Master of Public Policy Degree Requirements The Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs The University of Minnesota Pattarapong Niyomchat May 15, 2015 Signature below of Paper Supervisor certifies successful completion of oral presentation and completion of final written version: ______John Brian Atwood__ ______ ____________________ ___________________ Typed Name & Title, Paper Supervisor Date, oral presentation Date, paper completion _______ Robert Kudrle ________ ___________________ Typed Name & Title, Second Committee Member Date Signature of Third Committee Member, certifying successful completion of professional paper ______ Steven Andreasen______ ___________________ Typed Name & Title, Third Committee Member Date Signature of Third Committee Member, certifying successful completion of professional paper Page | 1 Evaluation of Current Situation of Bribery and Corruption in Thailand Perceptions of Government Officials and Ordinary Citizens to the Situation Pattarapong Niyomchat UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, PA8921 Page | 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1. Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 History and Culture behind Corruption in Thailand ...................................................................... 11 2. Magnitude of Corruption .................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Estimating the Magnitude of Corruption in Thailand ................................................................... 13 2.1.1 International observations ..................................................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Domestic observations........................................................................................................... 13 2.1.3 Surveys ................................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.4 Interviews ............................................................................................................................... 14 3. Literature Review ................................................................................................................................ 14 3.1 Theory of Corruption .................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 The Political Economy of Corruption ............................................................................................ 19 3.3 Corruption in Thailand .................................................................................................................. 22 4. Corruption Situation in Thailand in the 21st Century .......................................................................... 27 4.1 International Perceptions ............................................................................................................. 27 4.2 Domestic Perceptions ................................................................................................................... 29 5. Research Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 30 6. Data Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 33 6.1 Government Officials .................................................................................................................... 33 6.2 Ordinary Citizens ........................................................................................................................... 37 7. Discussion of the Interviews ............................................................................................................... 40 8. Policy Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 43 8.1 Short-Term Solutions .................................................................................................................... 43 8.2 Long-term Solutions ...................................................................................................................... 45 9. Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................... 46 References .................................................................................................................................................. 50 Appendix A: Interview Transcripts: Government Officials (English Language) ....................................... 52 Government Official No. 1 – Inspector, the Ministry of Interior ............................................................ 52 Page | 3 Government Officials No.2 – Director of Investigation and Legal Affairs Bureau, the Ministry of Interior ................................................................................................................................................................ 56 Government Official No. 3 –Border and Refugee Affairs Division, Internal Security Affairs Bureau, Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior .............................................................. 60 Government Official No. 4 – Supervision and Inspection Division, Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior ........................................................................................................ 64 Government Official No. 5 – People Services Center, Investigation and legal Affairs Bureau, Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior .............................................................. 70 Government Official No. 6 – People Services Center, Registration and Identification Card Promotion Division, the Bureau of Registration Administration, the Ministry of Interior ....................................... 73 Government Official No. 7 – Development Group Administration, System Development Group, Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior, the Ministry of Interior .......................................................... 77 Government Official No. 8 – Deputy Permanent Secretary for Interior, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior ................................................................................................................ 84 Government Official No. 9 – District Chief Officer, Nan Province, Ministry of Interior.......................... 87 Government Official No. 10 – District Chief Officer, Trang Province, Ministry of Interior ..................... 91 Government Official No. 11 – District Chief Officer, Mukdahan Province, Ministry of Interior ............. 97 Government Official No. 12 – Internal security Strategy Division, Policy and Planning Bureau, Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior, Ministry of Interior .................................................................. 111 Government Official No. 13 – District Chief Officer, Roi Et Province, Ministry of Interior ................... 119 Government Official No. 14 – Vice Governor, Ratchaburi Province, Ministry of Interior .................... 123 Government Official No. 15 – Officer, System and Planning Development, Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior ...................................................................................................... 127 Interview Transcripts: Government Officials (Thai Language) ................................................................. 133 Appendix B: Interview Transcripts: Ordinary Citizens (English Language) ............................................ 207 Ordinary Citizen No. 1 – A Watchmaker, PhraNaKorn District, Bangkok ............................................. 207 Ordinary Citizen No. 2 – A Street Food Stall Owner, PhraNaKorn District, Bangkok. ........................... 211 Ordinary Citizen No. 3 – A Rubber Farmer, Chang Klang District, NakhonSiThammarat. .................... 213 Ordinary Citizen No. 4 – A Rubber Farmer, Chang Klang District, NakhonSiThammarat. .................... 217 Ordinary Citizen No. 5 – A Retired University Professor, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen Province. ............................................................................................................................................... 219 Ordinary Citizen No. 6 – A Motorcycle Taxi Driver, Chawang District, NakhonSiThammarat Province. .............................................................................................................................................................. 220 Ordinary Citizen No. 7 – A used Car Dealer, Bangkok. .......................................................................... 223 Ordinary Citizen No. 8 – A small business owner, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai Province. 226 Ordinary Citizen No. 9 – A Book Store