Developing Integrity Indicators for Thai Public Sector

Abstract

"Integrity" is one of six good governance principles adopted by the Thai government since 1999 in order to improve the integrity of government administration, eliminate corruption, and improve the efficiency of government services. Government agencies such as King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI) have attempted to promote good governance in Thai government over the last two decades by organizing the Good Governance Awards and developing indicators of good governance for Thai government agencies. However, domestic and international political, economic, and social changes have occurred more than two decades later. As a result, in order to stay current with current and future situations, the integrity indicators must be reviewed. The main purpose of this study is to create or develop moral indicators for Thai government agencies. The underlying concepts and practices of model countries or "Best Practices," such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, as well as globally used indicators such as the World Governance Index, the Global Integrity Index, and the Central Ethical Standards, are being studied. According to the findings of a study based on the concept of international theory and practices and 7 Thai agencies indicator sources, for example, ombudsman, civil servant, police officer, 12 core values by the policy of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), twenty-year national strategy, Office of the Royal Development Projects Board (ORDPB), Ethical Standard Act B.E. 2562 (2019); 11 moral and ethical indicators covering three dimensions, including policy clarity, resource management, and internal audit control, were proposed for Thai government agencies. The integrity measures are made up of eight main indicators, including (1) adhering to morality and ethics, (2)honesty, (3) adhering to the interests of the nation and the public, (4) adhering to professional ethics, (5) insisting on doing what is right, fair and legal, (6) adhering to the democratic form of government with the King as Head of State, (7)the pursuit of knowledge, and (8) the pursuit of achievement; fifteen sub-indicators, thirty questions, and five assessment criteria scores based on a measure that can be used to evaluate government agencies in practice.