Unlocking participation: What drives Bangkok residents to join the 50:50 Co-Payment Scheme?

บทคัดย่อ

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the global economy, including that of Thailand. To mitigate these effects, the Thai government launched the 50:50 Co-Payment Scheme, aiming to stimulate domestic consumption by sharing expenses equally between citizens and the government. While the initiative has attracted substantial public interest, participation levels are influenced by various factors that shape individual decision-making. This research investigates the factors influencing the decision to participate in the 50:50 Co-Payment Scheme among Bangkok residents, an essential measure to boost economic activity during the pandemic. A survey research method was employed, collecting data from 92 Bangkok residents aged 18 and above, selected through simple random sampling, with the sample size determined using the G*Power formula. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate that attitudes toward the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (ATT) and perceived benefits of the 50:50 Co-Payment Scheme (BENE) are significant predictors of participation (DP), with both factors showing a statistically significant influence at the 0.001 level. The regression model explains 78.70% of the variance in participation decisions, with attitudes toward the government being the most influential factor (Beta = 0.096), followed by perceived benefits (Beta = 0.107). Other variables, such as ease of application use (CON), project promotion (PR), and family influence (FI), did not significantly affect participation. These findings provide insights into the motivations and expectations of participants, offering guidance for policymakers to enhance the effectiveness of such schemes in the future.