2. Paradigm Shift in Urban Development of Thailand
Urban Development in Thailand is facing problems which are in common with many other
countries. Problems such as high migration rate from local to urban areas have caused the urban
community to expand rapidly with overcrowding population, which becomes more difficult to be
monitored. This seriously affects the management of public services, resulting in services not being
delivered on time. This is the trigger of the environmental crisis.
Management for these existing problems has neither completed formula nor fixed regulation.
Many countries have different and various management methods depending on each country’s
situation and experience. For Thailand, in the past, it has been found that the evolution of urban
development has very much related to the development of the Local Government. Before the
year 1994, the system development of Thailand had a higher form of centralization. The income
of the Local Government Organization accounted for only 5-7 % of the government income. So, the
Local Government Organization played less role in development. The implementation of the
Development Project, with the local government as the core organizer, had to take support and
subsidy from the central government continuously.