79% of Thai respondents support the government’s digital wallet scheme and plan to use the proposed subsidy for purchases. 60% believe the ruling party’s popularity will decline if the program is canceled. Around 13.51% will reject the money, and 5.42% will accept it but not spend it. 25.27% are very concerned about the scheme’s potential negative impact.
Majority of respondents willing to accept and spend digital wallet subsidy
About 79% of respondents in a poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) expressed their willingness to accept the one-time subsidy of 10,000 baht offered by the government through the “digital wallet” scheme. The majority of these respondents indicated that they intend to use the money to purchase goods and services. Moreover, 60% of those surveyed believed that if the scheme were to be discontinued, it would negatively impact the popularity of the ruling Pheu Thai party.
Concerns about rising prices and the economy
The NIDA poll also highlighted some concerns regarding the impact of the scheme on prices and inflation. According to the survey, 25.27% of respondents expressed significant concern, while 30.92% indicated moderate concern that the scheme would drive up prices without stimulating the economy as predicted by a group of 99 academics, including former economics deans and central bank governors. On the other hand, 28.47% of respondents stated that they were not concerned at all.
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