Socioeconomic changes and suburban housing forms in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region of Thailand under the globalizing economy

Abstract

The study analyzes how globalization and industrialization have reshaped suburban housing forms and socio-economic characteristics in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). Using a framework linking global integration, changing employment and household economies, land/house markets and policies, and urban development, a questionnaire survey of 324 married households in the Eastern (Samutprakarn) and Northern (Pathumthani) corridors was conducted. Results show a rapid formalization and quality improvement of housing alongside persistent income gaps by education (≈1.8–3.3×), producing disparities in tenure, housing quality, and living environments amid limited state intervention. Four factors mitigate these inequalities: access to housing loans (GHB and private lenders), an affordable rental market, purchase timing, and government housing programs (BUA, BM).