Access to Government Policies and Measures for Thai Small and Medium Enterprise

Abstract

This research aims to study the perception of information concerning the government policies and measures for Thai small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to study the opportunity and participation in the government policies and measures for Thai SMEs, and to study factors leading to non-participation in the government policies and measures for Thai SMEs. The research sample consisted of 1,200 Thai SMEs obtained by stratified random sampling method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and exploratory factor analysis. Results indicated that 60.21% of the sampled SMEs were aware of information provided by the government concerning policies and assistance measures for SMEs, but the level of awareness was moderate. The awareness level of medium-sized and juristic person entrepreneurs was significantly higher than that of small and non-juristic person entrepreneurs at the .05 level of statistical significance. The opportunity that medium-sized and juristic person entrepreneurs would participate in the government policies and measures was also higher than that of small and non-juristic person entrepreneurs at the .05 level of statistical significance. Key factors leading to non-participation by SMEs in the government policies and measures for Thai SMEs included the unawareness of the information or the local authorities did not receive the information, followed by the lack of provision of allowances or travel expenses, and the policies and measures being not relevant to the needs of SMEs, respectively.