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The Journey to Less-Cash Society: Thailand's Payment System at a Crossroads

Author

Listed:
  • Atchana Lamsam
  • Jaree Pinthong
  • Chonnakan Rittinon
  • Aniya Shimnoi
  • Phuriwat Trakiatikul

Abstract

Digital technology is changing the way we transact and pay each other, but cash usage remains dominant in many countries. In Thailand, it remains a question whether and to what extent electronic payments (e-payment) can replace cash. What is the role of a central bank amid challenges and opportunities at this crossroads? The paper explores global trends in cash and e-payment and outlines Thailand's existing retail payment landscape. Both physical and IT/ICT infrastructure are assessed at micro-level with regard to Thailand's readiness to move away from cash. However, given coexistence of cash and e-payment at present, we explore ways in which efficiency of cash management process can be improved. Data on cash distribution by geographical area are utilized to illustrate usage of Thai consumers and identify costs and inefficiency associated with cash management. On the other hand, adoption of e-payment can play a critical role in moving toward a less-cash society, if not a cashless one. The paper highlights the latest data on e-payment behavior in Thailand, especially PromptPay transactions as well as mobile/internet transactions after the transfer fee reduction in March 2018.

Suggested Citation

  • Atchana Lamsam & Jaree Pinthong & Chonnakan Rittinon & Aniya Shimnoi & Phuriwat Trakiatikul, 2018. "The Journey to Less-Cash Society: Thailand's Payment System at a Crossroads," PIER Discussion Papers 101, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:pui:dpaper:101
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Bagnall & David Bounie & Kim P. Huynh & Anneke Kosse & Tobias Schmidt & Scott Schuh, 2016. "Consumer Cash Usage: A Cross-Country Comparison with Payment Diary Survey Data," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 12(4), pages 1-61, December.
    2. Ulf Von Kalckreuth & Tobias Schmidt & Helmut Stix, 2014. "Using Cash to Monitor Liquidity: Implications for Payments, Currency Demand, and Withdrawal Behavior," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(8), pages 1753-1786, December.
    3. Kenneth S. Rogoff, 2016. "The Curse of Cash," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 10798.
    4. Carin van der Cruijsen & Frank van der Horst, 2016. "Payment behaviour: the role of socio-psychological factors," DNB Working Papers 532, Netherlands Central Bank, Research Department.
    5. Morten Linnemann Bech & Umar Faruqui & Frederik Ougaard & Cristina Picillo, 2018. "Payments are a-changin' but cash still rules," BIS Quarterly Review, Bank for International Settlements, March.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cash; Payment Transactions; Cashless;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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