Chalongphob Sussangkarn
Encyclopedia
Chalongphob Sussangkarn was the President of the Thailand Development Research Institute
and later served as Minister of Finance in Surayud Chulanont
's military junta. An ethnic Chinese
of Hainanese
origin, He replaced Pridiyathorn Devakula
after Pridiyathorn abrubtly resigned. Chalongphob joined several other TDRI-affiliated individuals who had Cabinet-level seats in the junta, including Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras
and Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand
. Prior to joining the cabinet, Chalongphob had no experience in government and was an economist.
. After graduation, he taught at the Department of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley
during 1977–79. He later joined the World Bank
in Washington, D.C., where he served from 1979 to 1985. He then returned to Thailand
to work as an economist at the Thailand Development Research Institute
(TDRI). Dr. Sussangkarn served as the President of TDRI from 1996 up until 2007. He resigned from the his post in early March 2007 in order to accept appointment as finance minister, replacing Pridiyathorn Devakula
, who abruptly resigned. In February 2008, Sussangkarn returned to the TDRI to work as a researcher.
Thailand Development Research Institute
The Thailand Development Research Institute is a non-profit non-government Thai policy think tank focused social and economic development issues...
and later served as Minister of Finance in Surayud Chulanont
Surayud Chulanont
General Surayud Chulanont is a Thai political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Thailand and head of Thailand's Interim Government between 2006 and 2008...
's military junta. An ethnic Chinese
Thai Chinese
The Thai Chinese are an overseas Chinese community who live in Thailand. Thailand is home to the largest, oldest, most prominent, and most integrated overseas Chinese community in the world with a population of approximately 9.5 million people...
of Hainanese
Hainanese (ethnic)
The people of Hainan , known as Hainanese and Hainan people, usually refers to people who originate from Hainan Island, the southernmost and smallest Chinese province. The term "Hainanese" was frequently used by the Hainanese Han who are the majority in the island, to identify themselves overseas...
origin, He replaced Pridiyathorn Devakula
Pridiyathorn Devakula
Mom Rajawongse Pridiyathorn Devakula served as Minister of Finance in Thailand's interim civilian government. Before being named to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Pridiyathorn had served as Governor of the Bank of Thailand since 2001...
after Pridiyathorn abrubtly resigned. Chalongphob joined several other TDRI-affiliated individuals who had Cabinet-level seats in the junta, including Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras
Kosit Panpiemras
Kosit Panpiemras is the Executive Chairman of Bangkok Bank, a leading Thai commercial bank. Following the 2006 Thailand coup, he was appointed advisor to the military junta.-References:...
and Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand
Piyasvasti Amranand
Piyasvasti Amranand was Thailand's Energy Minister between 9 October 2006 and 6 February 2008. He is former Secretary-General of the Thai National Energy Policy Office, Chairman of Kasikorn Asset Management and Chairman of Panel of Advisors for CEO of Kasikornbank...
. Prior to joining the cabinet, Chalongphob had no experience in government and was an economist.
Education and career
Chalongphob received BA and PhD degrees from the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. After graduation, he taught at the Department of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
during 1977–79. He later joined the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
in Washington, D.C., where he served from 1979 to 1985. He then returned to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to work as an economist at the Thailand Development Research Institute
Thailand Development Research Institute
The Thailand Development Research Institute is a non-profit non-government Thai policy think tank focused social and economic development issues...
(TDRI). Dr. Sussangkarn served as the President of TDRI from 1996 up until 2007. He resigned from the his post in early March 2007 in order to accept appointment as finance minister, replacing Pridiyathorn Devakula
Pridiyathorn Devakula
Mom Rajawongse Pridiyathorn Devakula served as Minister of Finance in Thailand's interim civilian government. Before being named to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Pridiyathorn had served as Governor of the Bank of Thailand since 2001...
, who abruptly resigned. In February 2008, Sussangkarn returned to the TDRI to work as a researcher.
Policies
Chalongphob's policy stance was pro-business, and included:- Being against the Surayud government's capital control policy,
- Support for greater liberalization of foreign investment in Thailand, and
- Being against the Thaksin government's populist economic policies.