Representative leadership on behalf of the people only rarely finds a greater shared imperative well-resonated at causes and causalities of the disruptive world than at today’s crossroads. Leading socio-economic transition that addresses a wide range of complex and oftentimes mutually-reinforcing challenges is painstakingly daunting but achievable once perceived as emerging opportunities to a brighter future for all. But value-creating potential driven by the power of technology and innovation shall never make sense of today’s changing world unless the economy and the society win greater shared forward-looking perspective on the purpose highground (see narrative of the Fourth Industrial Revolution). Such is indeed a prerequisite of the transition to knowledge-based economy, particularly on the premise of how science, technology and innovation lead such course with sense-making roles at today’s globalization, but also why socio-economic resilience is indispensable to every forward-looking choice of structural reform mission (see UNCTAD’s technology and innovation report 2021). Undoubtedly, successful transformation of knowledge-based economy and society is a global shared priority but it’s national leadership that this dialog essentially calls for.

1. World Bank Group’s The Future of Work: Preparing for Disruption
Bangkok, Thailand / Page 1 (3) Edition: May 11, 2021
Leading a Transition to Knowledge-Based Society and Economy:
The Case of Thailand
Siripong Treetasanatavorn
Sloan Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Representative leadership on behalf of the people only rarely finds a greater shared
imperative well-resonated at causes and causalities of the disruptive world than at
today’s crossroads. Leading socio-economic transition that addresses a wide range
of complex and oftentimes mutually-reinforcing challenges is painstakingly daunting
but achievable once perceived as emerging opportunities to a brighter future for all.
But value-creating potential driven by the power of technology and innovation shall
never make sense of today’s changing world unless the economy and the society win
greater shared forward-looking perspective on the purpose highground (see narrative
of the Fourth Industrial Revolution1
). Such is indeed a prerequisite of the transition to
knowledge-based economy, particularly on the premise of how science, technology
and innovation lead such course with sense-making roles at today’s globalization, but
also why socio-economic resilience is indispensable to every forward-looking choice
of structural reform mission (see UNCTAD’s technology and innovation report 20212
).
Undoubtedly, successful transformation of knowledge-based economy and society is
a global shared priority but it’s national leadership that this dialog essentially calls for.
Competitive precedent in the case of Thailand indeed well demonstrates how sense-
making reform comes together with shared perspective of long-term structural growth
especially on a foundation of knowledge-based economy. Industrialization processes
indeed formed backbone of structural transition since 1980s notably with technology-
driven trade and investment policy with focuses on backward integration to the global
value chains (GVCs) across strategic growth sectors, such as chemical products but
also electronics and automotive (primarily in transition to today’s Eastern Economic
Corridor3
). Despite significant economic success of this reform, national growth has
largely been unequal in the country particularly exacerbated by outstanding structural
challenges of the middle-income trap (see analysis of the Bank of Thailand4
). Call for
broader-based structural reform has been a natural consequence, in principle toward
stronger distributive impact addressable on the country’s socio-economic highground
in connection to both urban and rural areas but also with greater reform emphasis on
sustainable development as part of the international community (chairmanship of the
of the G77 by Thailand in 20165
) and strategic application of knowledge-driven policy
in the economy and society in transition (see Thailand’s 12th National Economic and
Social Development Plan from 2017 to 20216
). Forward-looking prospect of Thailand
shall, however, be realizable once shared imperative of value-driven structural reform
wins a common ground of the country and the people without leaving anyone behind.
Success of the Kingdom in the subsequent development stage undoubtedly requires
no less than a whole-of-nation development narrative, making sense of such shared
imperative at least in the following three areas with strategic implications addressable
on the purpose highground for all in the country. First, national narrative of long-term
value transition on a whole-of-economy foundation. Value-driven structural transition
is at the fundamental of competitive growth transformation, essentially as innovation
is anticipated to play a greater sense-making role in strategy and governance terms.
Higher productivity gain as a result of GVC-specific innovation process shall certainly
improve value competitiveness in the industries that Thailand has established global
market position (smart robotics and electronics to uplift productivity in the automotive
industry3
, for instance). But the dialog of structural transformation also opens up new

2. S. Treetasanatavorn. Leading a Transition to Knowledge-Based Society and Economy
Edition: May 11, 2021 Bangkok, Thailand / Page 2 (3)
opportunities with implications of innovative contribution to the marketplace therefore
GVCs (electric vehicle addressable to the automotive market but with implications7
to
transformation in the GVCs therefore structural shift as a consequence). Competitive
choices of national narrative therefore require a holistic view taking into consideration
potential disruptive changes in each specific industry but critically also on a whole-of-
economy basis, notably in dialogs of value transitional pathway in an integrated view.
Second, intervention policy on an ecosystem level in integration of trade, investment
and development. Perspective of economic growth only comes together with forward-
looking change momentum and gravity notably on a whole-of-ecosystem intervention
highground. Ecosystem policy matters for competitiveness makes a difference once
mutually reinforcing impact unfolds based on resonance with contribution from each
specific moving part (industrial and trade policy makes sense once in resonance with
corresponding research and development policy8
). But the same logic also applies on
the highground of regional policy and diplomacy, notably toward regional value-chain
development therefore reciprocal trade increase within ASEAN (roadmap of the AEC
2025 in forward-looking views of economic and trade integration9
). Stronger prospect
of knowledge-based economy indeed requires both reform motions in resonance with
national and regional ecosystems, particularly toward synergic growth in the long run.
Third and last, broad-based growth prospect on a human-centric reform highground.
The dialog of structural transition shall never make sense if without realistic views of
an achievable prospect in sustainable development terms for human development is
not just a strategic intervention-policy objective of broader-based economic transition
(human development is the fundamental of United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals10
). But it’s the purpose highground of rights, equity and equality that reinforces,
coheres and transcends raisons d’être of knowledge-based economy and society but
also the transitional highground that works for all indeed while leaving no one behind.
After all, prospect of value transition shall come together on a foundation of whole-of-
ecosystem policy once resonating greater sustainable development ambition for all.
References:
1. World Economic Forum (WEF), 2016.
2. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2021.
3. Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), 2020.
4. Bank of Thailand (BoT), 2012.
5. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the 70th
Session, 2016.
6. Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council, 2017.
7. Oxford University, Blavatnik School of Government, 2018.
8. Thai Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, 2019.
9. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), 2019.
10. World Bank Group, 2019.
Takeaways of the Policy Recommendation:

3. S. Treetasanatavorn. Leading a Transition to Knowledge-Based Society and Economy
Bangkok, Thailand: Page 3 (3) Edition: May 11, 2021