Akkanut Wantanasombut
Akkanut heads the Innovation for Social Solidarity and Inclusive Economy in Asia at the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University. He also serves as a National Consultant for Thailand on the Project "Strengthening the Social and Solidarity Economy in Asia" for the International Labor Organization (ILO). His research focuses on the socio-economic impacts of digital transformation. Alongside his research, Akkanut has initiated a food delivery and ride-hailing platform for community to own and operate the platform themselves. His latest initiative involves advocating for the adoption of EV motorcycles among motorcycle taxi drivers to mitigate air pollution and enhance urban living standards in Bangkok.
Recent Works
2023 Digital Platform as Infrastructure for Enhancing Local Economy and Community Well-Being. Funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. (Project Head)
2023 The Regional Study on Impacts of 4IR on Marginalized and Vulnerable Groups. Funded by the Asia Foundation. (Project Head)
2023 Mapping Social and Solidarity Economy in Thailand. Funded by the International Labour Organization. (Project Head)
2022 Tamsang-Tamsong: Platform Cooperative. Funded by Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund. Chulalongkorn University (Project Head)
2022 Finding the gap on how to reduce single use plastic in food delivery platform in Phuket. Funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). (Project Head)
2022 ASEAN in the Disruptive Era: Digital Economy and the Future of Work YEAR 2: Digitalization of Banking and Financial Sector. Funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). (Researcher)
2021 Chanchala: Digital Economy for Inclusive Society. Funded by Thai Health Promotion Foundation. (Project Head)
2021 Riders-Heroes-Chains Working Conditions and Social Securities of Food Delivery Riders in Platform Economy during COVID-19. Funded by Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund. (Project head)
2021 Labor in Digital Economy. Supported by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI). (Researcher)
2021 Thaieconomap: Local economy digital platform funded by Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund. (Researcher)
2021 Tamsang-Tamsong: Social innovation for Social Solidarity Economy funded by Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund. (Project head)
2020 Tamsang-Tamsong: Solidarity Economy for Community Wellbeing funded by Thai Health Promotion Foundation. (Project Head)
2020 Myanmar in Transition: Significance to Thailand funded by Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund (Researcher)
2020 The impact of Covid-19 on migrant labour in Thailand funded by Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund. (Researcher)
2020 ASEAN in the Disruptive Era: Digital Economy and the Future of Work. Digitalization of Retailing in Thailand funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). (Researcher)
2018 The Dynamics of Informal Border Trade and Special Economic Zones in The Thai – Myanmar Border Area funded by The Thailand Research Fund (TRF). (Project Head)
Publications
2024 Wantanasombut A. (2024). Flexibility, Security, and the Quest for Unity in Platform Work: A Case of Riders from Thailand. Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia, Issue 37, March 2024.
https://kyotoreview.org/issue-37/platform-work-riders-from-thailand/
2022 Wantanasombut, A. (2022). Sending Money Back Home: Banking Digitalization, Myanmar Migrant Workers, and the Thailand-Myanmar Border Trade. Southeast Asian Studies, Vol. 11, No. 3, December 2022, pp. 451-475. Kyoto.
2017 Wantanasombut, A. (2017). The Ant Army: A Significant Mechanism of Thailand-Myanmar illegal Trade 1988-2012. The Regional Journal of Southeast Asian Studies Vol. 2 Issue 1. pp. 2-40. SEASREP. Manila.
2016 Wantanasombut, A. & Bonanno, G. (2016). Non solo giada: la rilevanza geo-economica del traffico di rubini in Myanmar, Relazioni Internazionali e International political economy del Sud-Est asiatico, pp. 6-8, Torino World Affairs Institute. Turin.
2016 Wantanasombut, A. (2016). How may ‘Nationalism’ help push sustainable development? Becoming Vol. 4. pp. 9-12, Center for ASEAN Studies. Chiang Mai University. Chiangmai.
2014 Wantanasombut, A. (2014). Unheard Voices: The Youth’s Movement toward the Conflict in Thailand’s Southernmost Provinces. Proceedings of the International Conference on Communication, Conflicts, and Peace Processes: Landscape of Knowledge from Asia and the Deep South of Thailand. pp. 187-204, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani.
2012 Wantanasombut, A. (2012). Thailand-Myanmar Border Trade, PSAKU International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research. Vol. 1. Issue 1. pp. 124-143, Political Science Association of Kasetsart University. Bangkok.
2012 Wantanasombut, A. The Rohingya from Burmese Perspective. Proceedings of the International Conference on Catching up Southeast Asia New Body: States, Markets, and Public Spheres. pp. 153-200, Institute of Asian Studies and Chula Global Network. Chulalongkorn University. Bangkok.