The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as an Approach to Social Innovation: Case Studies of Local Governments in Thailand
15
Issued Date
2023-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
26621320
eISSN
26621339
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85174466332
Journal Title
Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business in Association with Future Earth
Volume
Part F1473
Start Page
265
End Page
284
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business in Association with Future Earth Vol.Part F1473 (2023) , 265-284
Suggested Citation
Prayukvong W., Puntasen A., Hoopes J.E. The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as an Approach to Social Innovation: Case Studies of Local Governments in Thailand. Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business in Association with Future Earth Vol.Part F1473 (2023) , 265-284. 284. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-38016-7_13 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/90812
Title
The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as an Approach to Social Innovation: Case Studies of Local Governments in Thailand
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1946–2016) formulated the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP). “Sufficiency” means balancing reasonable moderation in production against the need for protection from sudden internal and external shocks. SEP follows the “Middle Path” as a guiding principle for all classes of society and government. Knowledge, thoughtfulness, prudence, and ethical integrity are essential to achieve the Middle Path. The paper explores the use of SEP as a method of social innovation for enhancing delivery of public services and for localizing the process of sustainable development. Such innovative use of SEP is illustrated by three exploratory case studies of local government in Thailand. The first case shows how a local administration built a program to produce renewable energy (household cooking gas) from pig farm waste while earning revenue from carbon credits. The second case involves a local administration setting up a community welfare fund to reduce the inequality of people who had not received a basic income. Finally, the third case is about a local administration encouraging residents to build their own recycling project rather than waiting for top-down government action. All three local governments have mayors with significant entrepreneurial abilities, useful in teaching entrepreneurial action to residents, government staff, and other local leaders. Together, these cases show the potential of SEP as a method of bottom-up social action for sustainable development.