A Tale of Two Samut A Tale of Two Samut CitiesCities

Different Paths to Different Paths to Development and Development and

People’s Well-beingPeople’s Well-beingin Samut Sakorn and Samut in Samut Sakorn and Samut

Songkram ProvincesSongkram Provinces

Decharut SukkumnoedDecharut SukkumnoedFaculty of Economics, Kasetsart Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart

UniversityUniversityWipawa ChuenchitWipawa Chuenchit

Healthy Public Policy FoundationHealthy Public Policy Foundation

Introduction to Two Samut Introduction to Two Samut CitiesCities

Located next to each other in the Located next to each other in the south west of Bangkok.south west of Bangkok.

Similar eco-cultural backgrounds i.e., Similar eco-cultural backgrounds i.e., the ecosystem of three waters and the ecosystem of three waters and wetland, one artery river, ways of life wetland, one artery river, ways of life and occupations closely tied with and occupations closely tied with local geographical contexts.local geographical contexts.

The ecosystem of three The ecosystem of three waterswaters

Brine

Brackish water

Fresh water

Previously similar ways of Previously similar ways of lifelife

Different development Different development pathspaths

In response to a series of National Economic In response to a series of National Economic and Social Development Plans, which first and Social Development Plans, which first began in B.E.2504 (1961), Samut Sakorn began in B.E.2504 (1961), Samut Sakorn has fully adopted the concept and put in has fully adopted the concept and put in into practice. The provincial strategy has set into practice. The provincial strategy has set its priority on rapid industrial development. its priority on rapid industrial development.

The share of industrial sector is now more The share of industrial sector is now more than 80%than 80% of total GPP in Samut Sakorn, of total GPP in Samut Sakorn, while the share of while the share of agricultural sectoragricultural sector has has dropped down dropped down from 50%from 50% in 1981 to 20% in in 1981 to 20% in 1991 and 1991 and to only 4%to only 4% in 2005. in 2005.

Different development Different development pathspaths

In In Samut SongkramSamut Songkram, the main economic , the main economic sector in 1981 was service and agricultural sector in 1981 was service and agricultural sectors. From 1981 to 1991, sectors. From 1981 to 1991, the industrial the industrial sector has grown only graduallysector has grown only gradually. At the . At the same time, the same time, the share of agricultural sectorshare of agricultural sector in Samut Songkram in Samut Songkram was also reduced was also reduced slowlyslowly. .

Up to 2005, the share of industrial sector in Up to 2005, the share of industrial sector in total Samut Songkram’s GPP is only around total Samut Songkram’s GPP is only around 23%, while the share of agricultural sector 23%, while the share of agricultural sector has been reduced from around 30% in 1981 has been reduced from around 30% in 1981 down to 7% in 2005 down to 7% in 2005

Different development Different development pathspaths

Samut Sakorn with increased industrialization

Samut Songkram with gradual change in its economic structure

Economic Structure of Samut Sakorn Province in 1991

Agriculture

Industry

ServiceEconomic Structure of Samut Sakorn Province in 2005

Agriculture

Industry

Service

The Changes in Economic The Changes in Economic Structure of Samut Sakorn Structure of Samut Sakorn

ProvinceProvince Economic Structure of

Samut Sakorn Province in 1981

Agriculture

Industry

Service

Economic Structure of Samut Songkram Province in 1991

Agriculture

Industry

Service

The Changes in Economic The Changes in Economic Structure of Samut Songkram Structure of Samut Songkram

ProvinceProvinceEconomic Structure of

Samut Songkram Province in 1981

Agriculture

Industry

Service

Economic Structure of Samut Songkram Province in 2005

Agriculture

Industry

Service

Gross Provincial ProductsGross Provincial ProductsGross Provinical Products at 1988 Constant Price

of Two Samut Provinces

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Year

mil

lio

n T

hai

Bah

t

Samut Sakorn

Samut Songkram

Gross Provinical Products per Capita at Current Price of Two Samut Provinces

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Year

Th

ai B

aht/

per

son

/yea

r

Samut Sakorn

Samut Songkram

Total Population of Two Samut Provinces

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Year

Th

ou

sa

nd

pe

rso

ns

Samut Sakorn

Samut Songkram

Different economic Different economic strengthsstrengths

Ten Leading Economic Sectors in Two Samut Provinces Analyzed Ten Leading Economic Sectors in Two Samut Provinces Analyzed by Location Quotient Analysisby Location Quotient Analysis

Samut Sakorn

Samut Songkram

Sector

2001 2006

Sector

2001 2006 1. Textile industry 4.03 4.27 1. Salt mining 28.06 39.64 2. Marine fishery 1.94 3.79 2. Tobacco industry 15.14 7.80 3. Office equipments 3.02 3.55 3. Vegetables 4.29 6.06 4. Garment industry 3.32 2.90 4. Fruits 3.85 5.64 5. Salt mining 5.21 2.73 5. Health and social

welfare 3.93 4.78

6. Rubber industry 2.84 2.61 6. Education 4.13 4.49 7. House-ware industry 1.99 2.00 7. Insurance and

pension 3.30 4.30

8. Paper industry 1.38 1.96 8. Financial support service

2.94 3.56

9. Food industry 1.66 1.72 9. Forestry products (Charcoal)

1.95 3.52

10. Metal works industry 1.66 1.54

10. Wholesale and retail 3.39 3.50

Different development Different development outcomesoutcomes

Although in terms of GPP per capita Samut Although in terms of GPP per capita Samut Sakorn has Sakorn has 8 times higher income8 times higher income than than Samut Songkram, Samut Sakorn still faces Samut Songkram, Samut Sakorn still faces more serious problemsmore serious problems in several aspects in several aspects i.e., HIV/AIDS, pollution, health risk i.e., HIV/AIDS, pollution, health risk behaviors.behaviors.

According to According to Human Achievement Index Human Achievement Index developed by UNDP, Samut Sakorn is very developed by UNDP, Samut Sakorn is very strong in terms of income and employment strong in terms of income and employment but has but has low performance in education, low performance in education, housing and living environment, and housing and living environment, and participationparticipation aspects. aspects.

Different development Different development outcomesoutcomes

On the contrary, Samut Songkram is only in On the contrary, Samut Songkram is only in low performance situation in family and low performance situation in family and community life aspect. community life aspect.

Overall result is that Samut Songkram Overall result is that Samut Songkram province has better human achievement province has better human achievement index than Samut Sakorn (no. 11 compared index than Samut Sakorn (no. 11 compared to no. 24 in the country). to no. 24 in the country).

Recently, Ministry of Social Development Recently, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security announced that Samut and Human Security announced that Samut Songkram is the best province in the Songkram is the best province in the country in the 2006 country in the 2006 human security human security index.index.

Selected development indicators Selected development indicators of Samut Sakorn and Samut of Samut Sakorn and Samut

SongkramSongkramDevelopment Indicators Samut Sakorn Samut Songkram Gross provincial product per Capita (Baht/capita/year)

449,780 61,311

Rate of new HIV/AIDS patients (per 100,000 population)

8.8 1.0

Rate of infants with low birth weight (percent) 9.3 7.7

Rate of unemployment (percent) 1.1 0.4

Rate of households with poverty (percent) 1.68 4.86

Rate of households affected by pollution (percent)

12.5 0.6

Number of crimes per 100,000 population 41 32 Rate of households participated in community activities (percent)

73.6 93.1

Rate of population with risky health behaviors (percent)

34.0 26.2

Source: UNDP, Thailand Human Development Report 2007.Source: UNDP, Thailand Human Development Report 2007.

Ranks of Human Achievement Ranks of Human Achievement

Index in Two Samut ProvincesIndex in Two Samut Provinces Samut Sakorn Samut Songkram Aspects in Human Achievement Index

Rank Level Rank Level GPP per Capita 2 Very high 33 Medium Health index 9 Very high 14 Very high Education index 67 Very low 43 Medium Employment index 3 Very high 35 High Income index 3 Very high 10 Very high Housing and living environment index 72 Very low 20 High Family and community life 56 Low 65 Very low Transportation and communication 20 Very high 11 Very high Participation 76 Very low 22 High Overall Human Achievement Index 24 High 11 Very High

Note: Rank 1 is the best performance province in the country in each aspect.Note: Rank 1 is the best performance province in the country in each aspect.Rank 76 is the worst performance province in the country in each aspect.Rank 76 is the worst performance province in the country in each aspect.

The Home of Exotic Thai The Home of Exotic Thai Products Products

and Lifestylesand Lifestyles In Samut Songkram, the preservation of In Samut Songkram, the preservation of

exotic Thai products and lifestyles is exotic Thai products and lifestyles is overwhelmingly supported by local overwhelmingly supported by local government and civil society, with the belief government and civil society, with the belief that it can that it can promote community economy and promote community economy and local employmentlocal employment. It is hoped that this . It is hoped that this development track will nurture social development track will nurture social relationship among community and family relationship among community and family members. members.

Social capitals are intensively emphasized Social capitals are intensively emphasized within this development path as a tool for within this development path as a tool for problem solving.problem solving.

The Home of Exotic Thai The Home of Exotic Thai Products Products

and Lifestylesand Lifestyles

In Samut Sakorn, social capital is not In Samut Sakorn, social capital is not a prominent public agenda. To some a prominent public agenda. To some extent, it has also struggled very extent, it has also struggled very hard to rescue its eco-cultural hard to rescue its eco-cultural identities.identities.

Exotic Thai products and lifestyles Exotic Thai products and lifestyles in Samut Sakorn and Samut in Samut Sakorn and Samut

SongkramSongkramItem Samut Sakorn Samut Songkram Exotic Thai products

- shrimp paste - sea mussel - ‘Phetsakorn’ longan - Salt farming

-worm shell at Don Hoy Lord - charcoal making from mangrove wood at Baan Yisarn - coconut-palm sugar at Tao Tan - ‘Ampawa’ lychees at Bang Khonthee district - stake-trapped mackerels from Mae Klong River - shrimp paste at Klong Khone - products from nipa palms - fiddle making at Baan Phaya Sor - rolling cigarettes at Bang Khonthee district

Exotic Thai lifestyles

- local fishery village, fishery canals - Seafood market at Mahachai - Bird-watching at Kok Kham Mangrove Forest

- Tha Kha floating market - Ampawa floating market - Folk museum, Baan Yisarn - Firefly watching boat trip - Home stay at Bang Pongpang and other communities - plank propelling on a mudbank for mussel picking at Don Hoy Lord

Exotic Thai products and lifestyles Exotic Thai products and lifestyles in Samut Sakorn and Samut in Samut Sakorn and Samut

SongkramSongkram

Picking worm shell and mussel at Don Hoy Lord

Nipa palm leaves are used for house building.

Traditional equipment to prepare shrimp paste

Future Challenges of Two Samut Future Challenges of Two Samut CitiesCities

Samut Sakorn->relatively low social Samut Sakorn->relatively low social investments-> how to turn high income into investments-> how to turn high income into better quality of life better quality of life

Samut Sakorn->natural conservation and Samut Sakorn->natural conservation and recovery with strong community participationrecovery with strong community participation

Samut Songkram->reductions in total Samut Songkram->reductions in total population and agricultural productionpopulation and agricultural production lead to lead to serious question on sustainability of their serious question on sustainability of their ways of life. ways of life.

Samut Songkram->the threats of mega Samut Songkram->the threats of mega projects i.e., coal-fired power plant.projects i.e., coal-fired power plant.

It is interesting how the lesson from It is interesting how the lesson from these two Samut cities will inform these two Samut cities will inform and urge Thai society to rethink and urge Thai society to rethink

about development path and about development path and direction, especially in the quest of direction, especially in the quest of

sufficiency economy. sufficiency economy.