{"id":1917,"date":"2021-09-29T11:50:54","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T04:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/headline-%e0%b8%9e%e0%b8%a5%e0%b8%b4%e0%b8%81%e0%b9%82%e0%b8%89%e0%b8%a1%e0%b8%9b%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%b0%e0%b9%80%e0%b8%97%e0%b8%a8%e0%b8%94%e0%b9%89%e0%b8%a7%e0%b8%a2%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%b0%e0%b8%9a%e0%b8%9a\/"},"modified":"2022-06-24T11:19:43","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T04:19:43","slug":"e-government-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/e-government-en\/","title":{"rendered":"E-Government: Turn Everything Around with Digitization"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since 1988, the World Bank has classified Thailand as a \u2018developing country\u2019 as measured by income per head and other forms of development. The social atmosphere at the time was full of hope. Thailand was named \u2018the Fifth Tiger of Asia,\u2019 the moniker that guaranteed its proud stance on the world stage. Thirty years later sadly it still retains the same status, with infrastructure improving but inequality worsening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not an overstatement to say that Thailand wasted thirty years with the type of development that could have been significantly improved. Prior to the pandemic, numerous countries started to revolutionize their infrastructure by digitization. In this day and age, even the older generations who once rejected technology know how to use a smartphone, and those born after the year 2000 have a different awareness, seeing themselves as global citizens who share and receive information beyond national boundaries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we feel like thirty years is a total waste of time? Let us see some examples from countries that have digitized in near-miraculous ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aerial view of Tallinn Old Town and Baltic Sea at sunset. Summer evening in Estonia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Estonian Miracle<\/strong> and Twenty Years of Life Improvement <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We often hear the saying that \u2018everything will get better in twenty years.\u2019 Such a saying is not out of the blue as a span of twenty years is the length that a generation grows up to social and economic conditions that the government now is creating. Changes take time; they clash with old habits and that certainly takes time to change. Sometimes change encourages debates, and at other times it leads to protests. However to improve society into a better version of itself, effective communication can help lessen conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estonia is a small nation in northern Europe that used to be a part of the Soviet Union and gained independence in 1991 — thirty years ago (around the same time when Thailand gained its developing country status.) At that time, its income per head was 3,435 USD; now it is 23,723 USD or up to seven times higher in thirty years. In comparison, Thailand\u2019s income per head increased only 4.5 times, not to mention that Thailand\u2019s population and resources are far more plentiful than Estonia\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Estonian government at the time realized that their newly-established nation was at a disadvantage in several dimensions as they had just lost the long-fought Cold War and did not have abundant natural resources like Russia. Five years after independence, the nation set off to enforce digitization policies that were more progressive than any countries at the time when the cyber revolution just started to gain force. Both the public and private sectors joined hands, and before the start of the 21st century, every school in Estonia was connected to the internet, and digital infrastructure was built across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scars left from the war and the ongoing struggles were a lesson learnt for them. Estonia now applies technology as their strong point and trains all citizens to equally access technology. They provide free computer lessons for adults, and students learn how to use computers in schools from the age of seven. All of this is to \u2018lessen the digital divide.\u2019 In 2016, 91.4 percent of Estonia\u2019s citizens could access the internet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The previous stories were just the beginning of digital infrastructure. The actual digitization started in 2007 when Estonia’s internet system was attacked, and the whole telecommunication system went down. The country turned a crisis into an opportunity to strengthen their digital infrastructure, especially the cyber security that Estonian citizens have come to know before anyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government developed the X-Road project,  connecting more than 4,000 governmental agencies\u2019 data. In this time of change, every citizen has the responsibility to input  their own information into the system. The new digital infrastructure relinquishes paper documents altogether, and the new system allows Estonian citizens to pay taxes, open a bank account, sign up for a scholarship, file a birth certificate, buy cars, or even vote in elections via digital devices without having to physically move from place to place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, Estonia is now able to reduce government spending. They ranked third from the 193 UN member states in the E-Government Development Index, and they came in second in Europe. Estonia also ranks first in terms of being a country that has improved most as an e-government. It has high access to technology and the government provides universal electronic services for citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What factors brought about Estonia\u2019s success?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The answer is \u2018transparency and trust in government\u2019.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When people\u2019s personal information is on the internet, the government must find ways to ensure safety and the citizens must have trust in the government\u2019s transparency, too.  The people should be able to cross-check government\u2019s information, judges\u2019 verdicts, and police files, to name but a few. Everyone has the right to access public information, and in case someone attempts to breach personal information, that person will immediately be warned, except when they are a pharmacist or a doctor accessing a patient\u2019s medical history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several laws that came to be implemented because the public voted for the law through online channels. The country does not have to spend its resources on physical voting ballots, and voters do not have to make copies of their ID cards and sign on them. Now it becomes clear that only in those countries that development stagnation benefits certain groups of people, then in that case digitization is not realized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may think that Thailand and Estonia are so different that comparing the two is a mismatch. Let us take a look at another country in the same continent that has fared better since they managed to get rid of dictatorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Forty Years, South Korea Is Ranked Second in Terms of E-Government<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the end of World War II, Korea was torn apart amid the cold war between the US and the Soviet Union, with an awakening China further complicating the Korean situation\u2019s complexities. The South Korean citizens had to fight against communist dictators for forty years, changed six constitutions during the course of time until it became the democratic country it is today mainly through the help of non-communist countries such as the USA. If we look at South Korea now, we see a country that exports cultural products and is driven by technology. Do you know that they have succeeded in changing from an analogue system to a digital one? South Korea now ranks the second as an e-government country; they rank first in Asia, higher than Estonia and won over only by Sweden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The digital revolution started in 1967 under the authoritarian government in power at that time. However, the country then had a wide wealth gap as the capitalists supported the dictators, and the politicians did not truly care about citizens\u2019 interests, and only cared about their own well-being. It was not a democracy where everyone participated in decision-making and received welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the end of the authoritarian era, the South Korean government created a roadmap aiming to utilize technology in its administration. They started by digitizing each ministry\u2019s information, supporting high-speed internet, connecting all ministries’ information, and creating transparency in the well-built system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process took fifty years. The drive was similar to Estonia\u2019s as a war-torn country whose resources were taken away, they had to build a country powerful enough to have negotiating power. The government saw citizens\u2019 needs as the heart of policymaking, and they officially announced the e-government policy in 1998, building governmental agencies\u2019 websites for citizens to access information, and creating a clear roadmap in 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At present South Korea has a project called KONEPS that provides convenience for the citizens by connecting all governmental services and making it a one-stop service. There is official information provided as well as channels for the people to give ample feedback about laws and public policies. The project includes connecting local government agencies to the central agencies without having to go through the silo working culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is obvious that when a government initiates the embrace of technology, the private sector and the public will follow, with the trust that they will have the government\u2019s support and then everyone is on the same ground; consequently,  digitization benefits everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Can Thailand Follow the Steps of Digitization?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Misunderstandings still linger about technology and digitization. Some think that having a website, using emails and video conferencing at work is all there is to it. But that is only a small change that does not affect society as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Covid situation has shown us digital tools can be used to systemize and manage problems, but these tools must be connected and accessible, for them to be convenient and for citizens to have trust in them. The Internet and computers are simply tools; it is policies that veritably solve problems that are the heart of development. Success stories from other countries are lessons to learn and adapt, not something to just copy and paste, since each society has different contexts, and different citizens\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a belief that when digitization comes, a lot of people will be unemployed. But looking at it from another perspective, when digital tools replace repetitive work, it means workers have the chance to get their hands on more fun and creative work. In fact, unemployment due to digitization is something that the government should have a policy to take care of the people, to leave no one behind. Thailand has the time for change as it will not be tomorrow or next year, but maybe in the next ten years when we will eventually have to adopt digitization for more efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Worth Every Baht, Transparent, and Participatory<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the big picture, digitization will help save an enormous amount of government funds. The surplus can be used to develop other aspects such as education, critical thinking, or child support grants which are proven to be one of the worthiest investments for a nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It does not only save on budgetary spending, but the digitization of bureaucracy means all citizens can participate in auditing the government\u2019s administration. Imagine being able to easily access every governmental agency\u2019s website, being able to see the budget and procurement, how easy would it be to scrutinize the government?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digitization also allows people to take part in policymaking. Several governments now turn to digital platforms, and they use the platforms as a space for citizens to participate and give feedback about public policies. Spain has a platform called Decide Madrid, established in 2015 for people to participate in policy-making and to even suggest budget allocations in the city government projects that do not exceed 100 million euros. The platform also allows citizens to comment on the government\u2019s work and the city government comes to listen to the feedback directly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why digital transformation is instrumental. It allows citizens to easily access information, comment on, and participate in the policy-making process. Furthermore, it allows the government to listen directly, to learn about citizens\u2019 needs and implement those policies that meet the population\u2019s needs. The transparency of the digital system also creates trust and intimacy between the government and the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine the changes if:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  • Government financial support goes directly into our bank accounts.<\/li>
  • There is a chatbot to talk and give advice to the unemployed.<\/li>
  • There is a notification for you to get vaccinated at the nearest spot without having to queue up for half a day.<\/li>
  • You can get the documents from the government agencies by just verifying yourself via a smartphone.<\/li>
  • When you are ill, there are notifications of welfare you could receive via e-mail.<\/li>
  • You can just go see a doctor at any hospital since the information is digitized and shared across hospitals.<\/li>
  • Everyone can vote on laws directly.<\/li>
  • The internet is high-speed across the country, and students can study from anywhere.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    If others can, we can, too.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Overturning the whole digital infrastructure may take a while, but if you would like to take part in policy-making now, the Thailand Policy Lab will very soon launch a virtual platform for everyone to participate in the policy-making process. We do believe that your ideas can be a starting point to change this country for the better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Since 1988, the World Bank has classified Thailand as a \u2018developing country\u2019 as measured by income per head and other forms of development. The social atmosphere at the time was full of hope. Thailand was named \u2018the Fifth Tiger of Asia,\u2019 the moniker that guaranteed its proud stance on the world stage. Thirty years later […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[220,81,221,222,226],"topic":[209,209,211],"our_work_category":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1917","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-article-en","8":"tag-digital-2","9":"tag-thailand-policy-lab","10":"tag-221","11":"tag-222","12":"tag-policy-innovation-2-en","13":"topic-policy-innovation-en","15":"topic-social-issues-en"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1917"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2292,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917\/revisions\/2292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1917"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=1917"},{"taxonomy":"our_work_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thailandpolicylab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/our_work_category?post=1917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}