Page 78 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

2.3 Overview of Giving in Thailand Compared with Other Countries
As discussed in earlier sections, the rise of social enterprise in Western countries was driven by

shifts in economic and social conditions that gradually transformed traditional forms of charity
into investment-based approaches aimed at building a better society. This transformation
resulted from a convergence of social forces, including labor union movements, environmental
activism, academic theories, and responses from the private sector.

Thailand has exhibited a similar trajectory. However, religious belief remains the most powerful
and enduring driving force behind public-mindedness and continues to shape civic engagement
to this day. While religion has proven more influential than academic discourse or social activism
in motivating acts of public service, international regulatory pressures, particularly those that use

global trade mechanisms to enforce environmental standards, have also contributed to the
expansion of public-spirited efforts into the realm of social enterprise in Thailand.

Globally, Thailand ranked 39th in the 2023 World Giving Index, which assesses generosity based
on three indicators: helping a stranger, donating to charitable causes, and volunteering time. With
respect to volunteering, Thailand dropped from 12th place in the previous year to 39th in 2023.
However, when measured by the percentage of adults who donate money (excluding the years
2016, 2018, and 2020 for which data were unavailable), Thailand has consistently ranked among
the top 10 countries. In fact, Thailand held the top global position in 2011, the year of the major

flood disaster, for the highest rate of charitable giving. Nevertheless, the percentage of donors
has shown a clear downward trend since 2015. It is also noteworthy that the countries ranking
highest in public donations in 2023 were predominantly developing or least developed nations.
Indonesia has held the number one position globally for several consecutive years, followed by

Kenya in third place, Liberia in fourth, and Myanmar in sixth. In these countries, one reason for
the high level of mutual aid among citizens is the limited reach and capacity of their welfare
systems.

2.4 The Status of Nonprofit Organizations in Thailand

In Thailand, the social economy sector comprises community enterprises, associations,
foundations, cooperatives, and social enterprises. The number of each type of organization is
shown in Table 2.1. Community enterprises account for the largest proportion (67.75 percent),
while social enterprises represent only a small share (0.28 percent). One reason for the low
number of social enterprises is that they are legally registered entities that have only recently
begun receiving support from the government in the past few years.

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