Public Administration within the Sufficiency Economy

Abstract

Sufficiency Economy, sometimes also called Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, is an alternative socio-economic, Thai development concept conceived by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). As it is such an overarching concept, what do the respective assumptions mean for the shape of Public Administration (PA)? This essay tries to answer this question, first, via an investigation of what Sufficiency Economy really is. On this basis, the characteristics of PA within the Sufficiency Economy will be explored; these are then placed in the context of global-Western PA in order to see to which contemporary PA paradigm it would fit.