The public policy making in the use of ethanol and gasohol as alternative energy aims at solving the problem of rising oil price. Such alternative energy is produced from cassava and molasses. This study examines the content and development of ethanol and gasohol policy, along with positive and negative impacts of the policy on various and relevant groups. The time frame for the study comprises three government administrations under thaksin shinnawatra, Surayud Chulanont, and Samak Sundaravej.
The study found that large corporations comprising the petroleum producers and refineries, ethanol producers, and automobile and auto-parts manufacturers receive direct benefit from the policy, whereas agriculture-related enterprises benefit indirectly from it. The study argues that State’s policy making contributes to the benefit gained by these large companies due to their intimate relationship with the three administrations, mostly in the form of patron-client relationship. On the other hand, cassava and sugarcane farmers do not receive as much benefit from the policy. The study also argues that the three government administrations – as important actors in this policy – benefit from the policy, alongside the corporations. The study also finds similar policy direction among the three administrations, which is pushing further production and use of ethanol and gasohol. Also, the large corporations continue to benefit from the policy throughout the three administrations. As for the Thai civil society, the study points out that it has a remote and a less role in policy making than do the corporations. Hence, the general picture of the policy making seems to be that the government administrations along with the big private companies stay on one same side, while the civil society stays farther away on the other.