TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Role of the Ethnic Thai-Chinese in Economy in
Khon Kaen Municipality
AU - She, Bingying AU - Wongpongkham, Niyom AU - Buarabha, Homhuan 
JO  - Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
VL  - 15
IS  - 3
SP  - 830
EP  - 837
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1816-949x
DO  - jeasci.2020.830.837
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jeasci.2020.830.837
KW  - Thai-Chinese
KW  -economic role
KW  -Khon Kaen municipality
KW  -evolution
KW  -production
KW  -economy
AB  - The present study as qualitative research sought to investigate the history of the ethnic Thai-Chinese
in Khon Kaen municipality and their economic roles in such a municipal area from past to present. The data
were collected from secondary sources through a review and study of related research as well as from primary
sources as in the samples in this study through a field study in Khon Kaen municipality, Thailand. In collecting
the data, research instruments employed in this study included the survey, observation, interviews and focus
group discussions. The collected data were then analyzed on a basis of Karl Marx’s theory of historical
materialism and capitalism. The results demonstrated that the ethnic Thai Chinese in Khon Kaen municipality
have had a long history of over at least 100 years. In fact, they had already immigrated to Khon Kaen prior to
the railroad construction, they have been living in Khon Kaen, since, 1791 and this current period has become
their fourth century. The ethnic Thai Chinese residing in Khon Kaen municipality are not only craftsmen but
also merchants who have served as a laborer, a distributor, a producer, an importer and an exporter. Considering
that, overall, the ethnic Thai Chinese served to build an economic connection among Khon Kaen, Bangkok and
the world. Thus, they have become business owners and loaners, thereby playing an important role in propelling
Thailand’s economy towards a trading economy or capitalism. Based on Karl Marx’s theory of economic
development with social relations of production in Khon Kaen municipality, the ethnic Thai Chinese have
evolved from laborers to business owners or investors as owners of factors of production which is viewed as
ruling class. Such evolution has in turn elevated the ethnic Thai Chinese to the economic elite in Khon Kaen
municipality, thereby being able to regulate the economy in the municipal area. As has been stated earlier, it
has reflected the elevation and transformation of roles of the ethnic Thai Chinese in Khon Kaen municipality.
ER  -