One factor which have resulted in deforestation in Thailand is concerned with
property rights in land. Although illegal logging by people with political connections is
commonly accepted as important, titled land has been more significant than other factors.
General patterns encouraging deforestation include illegal encroachment by landless and
small farmers actually clearing land the expectation that they would then revive title to the
newly cleared land (see Siamwalla, 1991; Siriprachai, 1995a). the soft state in the context of
Gunnar Myrdal might fit the case of Thailand. According to North (1990), it implies that a
third party, namely the relatively autonomous state is required, however the Thai state
appears too weak to enforce the law of the land and secure property rights which can only be
done by political and judicial organizations that effectively and impartially enforce contracts
across space and time. However, property rights in land in Thailand have been very insecure
and chaotic. Some Thai scholars claim that because Thailand has never enacted a genuine
land tax, the necessity for a systematic land title is redundant.