Participation of the People in the Application of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to Decentralization: A Case Study of Kon Sawan District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

 This research aims 1) to assess the knowledge and understanding affecting the participation of the people in the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy to decentralization 2) to know the level of participation of the people in the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy to decentralization; and 3) identify the problems and solutions to public participation in applying the sufficiency economy philosophy to decentralization. There were 381 participants from Khon Sawan District, Chaiyaphum Province. Krejcie & Morgan table multi-step sampling was used to get the sample size of the participants. The research tool consisted of set of questionnaires. The data were analyzed using percentage, mean, frequency distribution and standard deviation. It was found that 1) the knowledge and understanding of the sufficiency economy philosophy of the sample group was at a good level; and 2) the participation of people in applying the sufficiency economy philosophy to decentralization to the local area overall was low level (= 2.44); and 3) the agencies should give more opportunities for people to participate in policy-making, based on the opinions towards promoting the participation of people in the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy in the administration of local organizations. Public relations should increase public consciousness, including the use of the sufficiency economy philosophy in the appropriate management of department.