Economic Resilience and Crisis Management: Local Government Responses to Covid-19 In Thailand’s Deep South

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the responsibilities and preparedness of local government in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic while analyzing the factors influencing their readiness in the southernmost provinces of Thailand. Employing a mixed-method research approach, data were gathered through a questionnaire completed by 171 representatives and interviews with 13 key informants from local administrative organizations in the multicultural community of southern Thailand. The findings indicate that local governments exhibited high overall performance in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they were less effective in promoting and addressing occupational issues than their efforts in preventing the spread of the virus. The study also revealed that these organizations were well-prepared regarding facilities, coordination, networking, and public communication. Notably, public communication and community participation emerged as key factors significantly impacting their performance in promoting and resolving occupational problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic, across the southernmost provinces.