03269nas a2200289 a 450000500170000000800410001703500150005810000190007324501020009226000670019430000430026149000270030450001360033150200580046752019280052565000370245365000490249065000440253965000230258370000520260670000400265870000490269870000510274771000570279881000590285585600650291420260817162549.0260127s20259999th u  ms t    000   eng d  a.b124727001 aAmpaka Chaiket10aAnalyzing the impact of BTS fare adjustments on affordability for low-income commuters in Bangkok  aPathum Thani, Thailand :bAsian Institute of Technology,c2025  a107 leaves :bill.+e1 online resource1 aThesis; vno. TE-24-04  aA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Transportation Engineering  aThesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025  aThis study investigates the impact of BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) fare  adjustments on the affordability for low-income commuters in Bangkok, a pressing  concern amidst rising transportation costs and widening income inequality. The  research evaluates this impact using three core indicators: (1) the Affordability Index,  which calculates the proportion of household income spent on BTS fares; (2) Price  Elasticity of Demand, which reflects the behavioral response to fare increases; and (3)  Willingness to Pay (WTP), assessed through a Contingent Valuation Method (CVM)  using a Double-Bounded Dichotomous Choice (DBDC) approach. Survey data were collected from 510 respondents representing diverse income groups  and analyzed using binary logistic regression and the DBDC model. The findings reveal  that the lowest-income group spends over 15% of their income on BTS fares{u2014}far  exceeding the widely accepted 10% affordability threshold. This suggests a  disproportionately high burden on low-income commuters. Furthermore, the calculated  price elasticity of 0.377 indicates inelastic demand, highlighting that BTS is a necessity  for many users.  The WTP analysis shows a statistically significant relationship between income and  fare acceptance, with higher-income respondents willing to pay nearly twice as much  as lower-income ones. This confirms the regressive nature of the flat fare structure and  raises concerns about equity in public transport access.  The study recommends that the government take greater consideration when adjusting  BTS fares, ensuring that such policies are inclusive of all income groups{u2014}particularly  low-income populations. Public transport should not merely be an optional mode of  travel, but a fundamental service that is accessible to all. The BTS system, therefore,  should be designed and priced as an essential utility rather than a premium alternative.  0aLocal transitzThailandzBangkok 0aElectric railroadsxFareszThailandzBangkok 0aLow-income consumerszThailandzBangkok 0aWillingness to Pay1 aBhatt, AyushmanKunnawee Kanitpong,eChairperson0 aKunnawee Kanitpong,eCo-chairperson0 aPattharin Sarutipand,eExamination Committee0 aAmpol Karoonsoontawong,eExamination Committee2 aRoyal Thai Government Fellowship,eScholarship Donor2 aAsian Institute of Technology.tThesis; vno. TE-24-04403Full-Textuhttp://203.159.5.9/ait-thesis/detail.php?q=B23369