BANGKOK: A recent survey conducted by Nida Poll has revealed significant public sentiment regarding the potential cancellation and adjustment of the government’s Phase 2 digital wallet project. A substantial portion of the population expressed varying degrees of dissatisfaction contingent on the project’s final format, highlighting diverse expectations and concerns about the planned financial assistance.
According to Thai News Agency, the survey specifically addressed public reactions to various scenarios concerning the Phase 2 digital wallet project. It was found that 41.58% of respondents would be “very angry” if the project was canceled without any payment being made. Conversely, 34.38% of participants expressed no anger at all towards the cancellation. The survey further indicated that feelings of anger varied significantly depending on the payment amount and method. For instance, if the government decided to pay only 5,000 baht instead of the promised 10,000 baht, 40.30% of respondents stated they would
not be angry, while 24.47% would be very angry.
The survey also revealed that 60.54% of respondents would not be angry if the full 10,000 baht were paid in digital wallets, demonstrating a preference for receiving the full promised amount. Additionally, if the payment were to be split into two installments of 5,000 baht each, 60.88% indicated no anger, suggesting a tolerable reception to phased payments among the majority.
Regarding opinions on who should receive government handouts, 29.44% of those surveyed advocated for universal distribution irrespective of income or asset levels, while 25.47% opposed any form of handout. Among other responses, 25.25% supported handouts strictly for the vulnerable and disabled, and a smaller segment, 15.66%, favored a combination of cash for the vulnerable and digital wallets in Phase 2.
The results of the Nida Poll illustrate the complexities of public opinion surrounding government financial interventions, particularly in the context of economic aid during crises. The
se insights are crucial for policymakers as they weigh the social and economic impacts of their decisions on digital wallet distributions.