Page 108 - A Life Well-Lived Is a Beautiful Memory

In Memory

of the Late

Bhanupong

Nidhiprabha

Somkiat Tangkitvanich
15 April 2024

Bhanupong Nidhiprabha was not just an exceptionally gifted macroeconomist and
econometrician, he was also a beacon of insight and wit for those lucky enough to have crossed
his path. I had the good fortune of meeting him when I joined the Thailand Development Research

Institute (TDRI) in 1996, where he dazzled as an external consultant.
His scholarly work spanned macroeconomics, monetary policy, and the intricacies of the
Thai economy, earning wide acclaim. My encounters with him were frequent at meetings hosted
by the Asian Economic Panel (AEP) at Keio University. It was there I once dared to critique his

analysis of the Thai agricultural sector—an audacious move reciprocated by his dissection of my
papers on Thailand’s COVID-19 strategies, and its educational system, with thought-provoking
comments.
Bhanupong was rigorous, critical, and perpetually sharp-witted. Personally, I reaped immense

benefits from both critiquing his work and being on the receiving end of his critiques. Our debates
were intellectually invigorating; he made sure of that by dismissing any argument that wasn’t
thoroughly baked.
Though we weren’t close personally, Bhanupong’s charm and amiability were undeniable,

even if sometimes veiled by his delightfully biting sarcasm.
The loss of Bhanupong is deeply felt by the fraternity of economists in Thailand. His ideas
and works will remain invaluable assets, continually enriching the knowledge and experiences
of fellow economists and researchers. His intellectual legacy is set to endure, inspiring future

generations to chase after truth with the same rigor and fearless independence that he embodied.

Somkiat Tangkitvanich is the president of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI),
a well-recognized think tank in Thailand. He has been recognized as a leading Thai expert in
trade and investment policies, innovation policy, education policy, and ICT policy. He was the
architect of Thai PBS, the first public television in Southeast Asia. Somkiat was also instrumental
in drafting many media laws in Thailand. Under his leadership, TDRI was awarded “Person of the
Year” in 2012 by the Bangkok Post. He obtained his PhD in Computer Science from the Tokyo
Institute of Technology.

108 A Life Well-Lived Is a Beautiful Memory