Vulnerability and risk management for sustainable livelihoods of farm households in Northern Thailand [Elektronische Ressource] : the role of health insurance in managing risk / von Thitiwan Sricharoen

FAKULTÄT AGRARWISSENSCHAFTEN Aus dem Institut für Agrar- und Sozialökonomie in den Tropen und Subtropen, Universität Hohenheim Fachgebiet: Landwirtschaftliche Entwicklungstheorie und Entwicklungspolitik Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c.Franz.Heidhues Vulnerability and Risk Management for Sustainable Livelihoods of Farm Households in Northern Thailand- The Role of Health Insurance in Managing Risk Dissertation Zur Erlangung des Grades eines Doktors der Agrarwissenschaften vorgelegt der Fakultät Agrarwissenschaften Von Thitiwan Sricharoen Aus Chonburi, Thailand 2006 ________________________________________________________________________________ vii PREFACE During the last decade, the percentage of Thailand’s population living below the poverty line has declined. However, the proportion of the poor who live in rural areas has increased. Thus, rural poverty is still a massive problem. In addition to poverty, households in rural areas are exposed to high levels of vulnerability because they face manifold risks and have insufficient means of risk management. Therefore, addressing the issue of poverty, vulnerability and risk nt in rural Thailand is important. The complexity of the poverty phenomena in developing countries is challenging.