| Abstract | The objective of this study has been to investigate the role of
the Khon Kaen-Yang Talad feeder road in the economic development of the region in which it is located. The study area traversed by this road
comprises Tambol (Sub-district) Pralab in Amphur (District) Muang Khon Kaen, Amphur Chieng Yuen in Changwad (Province) Mahasarakam, and
Amphur Yang Talad in Changwad Kalasin. General concepts pertaining to economic benefits, mainly indirect benefits, which may be induced by the construction of development roads are presented. Certain of
these economic effects were selected for detailed analysis. Indirect benefits were assessed from agricultural economic development, forestry product development, educational development, health facility development, and the development of business and commercial activity in the study
region. Each aspect that was studied utilized a combination of cross sectional and time-series analysis. Time-series changes in agricultural production, forest production, and business activity were investigated by comparing the data with that of a reference area. To ensure that the reference area had generally similar environmental conditions, the datum was the larger geographical (and political) division of which the study area was a component. The datum regions selected were Changwad Mahasarakam excluding Amphur Chieng Yuen, and Changwad Kalasin excluding Amphur Yang Talad. Prior to the construction of the
feeder road, transportation facilities, population growth trends, amount of rainfall, agricultural conditions, distribution of agricultural
production by type, public policy, and other environmental conditions in the study area and the datum regions were similar. Conclusions have been drawn pertaining to the economic effects of feeder roads in
Northeast Thailand |
