Bangkok, 19-20 October 2023: The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) held a validation workshop on the study of good regulatory practices (GRP) in the education service sector in Bangkok, Thailand. This was the last in a series of GRP workshops which started in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. The workshop was hosted by the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University.

ERIA’s Policy Design Department team took part, supported by Professor Tachmai Rikshasuta from the Faculty of Law; Associate Professor Dr Chayodom Chabsari from the Faculty of Economics; and Associate Professor Dr Sineenat Sermcheep, Director of the ASEAN Studies Centre of Chulalongkorn University.

The case study showcases the application of good regulatory practices in the education services sector at the national level, and the correlation between the implementation of these GRPs and improvement in economic performance and reductions in trade costs. This will form part of a handbook to help World Trade Organisation (WTO) countries become familiar with the WTO reference paper on services domestic regulation (2021).

Thailand’s education sector was selected as an example of best practices, as it has consistently seen an increase in its contribution to GDP since 1991, and the growth in the number of international schools (teaching in English/bilingual). This growth stands in contrast to a decline in private schools (teaching in the Thai language), attributed to economic conditions and declining birth rates. International schools, particularly those with foreign partnerships, have remained resilient in Thailand's changing educational and societal landscape.

The workshop explored the regulatory framework, which has enabled international schools to thrive and prosper in Thailand. The two-day event was structured with distinct sessions tailored for policymakers and executives from highly reputable international schools. A dynamic exchange of ideas during the workshop helped ERIA’s researchers refine and validate the findings of the case study research.

The research serves as a compelling demonstration of the practical application of good regulatory practices in the national context. It seeks to illustrate the correlation between the implementation of sound regulatory practices at the national level and the subsequent effect on economic performance.

The workshop is a crucial component of ERIA’s joint research project with the WTO and the World Bank in developing the Handbook of Good Regulatory Practices to Facilitate Services Trade in selected ASEAN countries.