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This policy note examines Thailand's programs for preventing poverty among the elderly, and suggests options for improving the effectiveness of these programs. The number of elderly people in Thailand will increase dramatically over the next 30 years, and the elderly already have a higher poverty rate than the population as a whole. Although Thailand currently has a total of eight pension programs, the majority of the benefits go to those who are not poor. In addition, unlike most countries, Thailand lacks a pension and provident fund supervision agency or a consolidated financial institution regulator, and does not appear to have a well-articulated national pension policy. This has led to the development of two major sets of pension programs, with one group sponsored by the ministry of labor and the social security office, and the other by the ministry of finance and the securities commission. These are also supplemented by an assortment of social assistance and community programs sponsored by the ministry of social development and human security and the ministry of interior. This policy note will examine the above issues in more detail and recommend policy options to simplify and coordinate the various pension and social assistance programs aimed at preventing poverty among the elderly, target more spending at the elderly poor, and assure long-term fiscal sustainability.

Financial consumer protection sets clear rules of conduct for financial firms regarding their retail customers. It aims to ensure that consumers: 1) receive information to allow them to make informed decisions, 2) are not subject to unfair or deceptive practices, and 3) have access to recourse mechanisms to resolve disputes. Complementary financial literacy initiatives are aimed at giving consumers the knowledge and skills to understand the risks and rewards of using financial products and services-and their legal rights and obligations in using them. Clear rules of conduct for financial institutions, combined with programs of financial education for consumers, will increase consumer trust in financial markets and will support the development of these markets. International and regional non-government organizations are also playing an increasingly important role in financial consumer protection. The responsible finance forum lists financial consumer protection regulation and financial capability as two of the three pillars of the framework for responsible finance. This summary is not exhaustive but helps illustrate the many ongoing international initiatives that support financial consumer protection. All the initiatives are helpful in strengthening the global response to weaknesses in financial consumer protection. Nevertheless, still more could be done by civil society organizations, particularly those operating at a global level. The World Bank is also supporting the international dialogue on financial consumer protection through development of good practices based on country-level experience and ongoing technical assistance. The good practices provide a comprehensive diagnostic tool to help identify the consumer protection issues in all parts of the financial sector.

Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa This study aimed to gather the perceptions of three audiences in specific, about their understanding on the generation of value through the activity of Investor Relations in Brazilian listed companies. The first group, consisting of 16 professionals and experts in Investor Relations and the second group, comprised of 11 investment analysts and portfolio managers, were personally interviewed using structured interview, survey-type. The third group of individual investors answered a questionnaire via Internet, totaling 457 valid responses. The findings show that in the perceptions of the three groups, IR adds value to the company. They also pointed out several activities and structures presents in Investor Relations that are considered more relevant in the sense of adding value to the company. Reflecting these activities and structures, it was possible to divide them into five groups: Communication, Activities, Meetings with the Market, Strategy and Metrics of Direct Measurement. The Communication was of higher importance, noting that IR and the company must be transparent, providing the information in a quick, clear, reasoned way, and the IR website and electronic media were identified as the main means. Activities undertaken by IR, shows relevance the contact with foreign investors; the explanation of profit distribution policy; relevant future events, as new investments; the diversification of the shareholder bases; comparative analysis of the sector in which the company operates; and actions to promote the liquidity of shares. Regarding Meetings With the Market, public meetings, individual (with sell side, buy side and institutional) and road shows, were revealed as relevant. About the Strategy in IR, it became clear that it must be drawn on the Executive Board, and the area should be subordinated to the CEO. Finally, Metrics of Direct Measurement point to three main items, namely the amount of "houses" covering the company's stock, the average market valuation compared to the valuation prepared by the company itself, and decrease in volatility of stock price compared with peer companies in the industry. The article seeks to contribute to, in future searches, build more objective and justified proxies for the quality of IR, in an attempt to quantify the value that the IR area adds to the public companies. A presente dissertação objetivou coletar a percepção de três públicos em específico acerca do entendimento dos mesmos quanto à geração de valor por meio da atividade de Relações com Investidores em companhias abertas brasileiras. O primeiro grupo, formado por 16 profissionais e especialistas em Relações com Investidores, e o segundo grupo, formado por 11 analistas de investimento e gestores de carteiras, foram entrevistados pessoalmente por intermédio de entrevistas estruturadas do tipo survey. O terceiro grupo, dos investidores individuais, respondeu a questionário via internet, totalizando 457 respostas válidas. Os achados mostram que na percepção dos três grupos, RI agrega valor à companhia. Os mesmos ainda apontaram diversas atividades e estruturas presentes em Relações com Investidores que se demonstram mais relevantes no sentido de agregar valor à companhia, bem como aquelas que se demonstram menos relevantes. Espelhando essas atividades ou estruturas, foi possível dividi-las em cinco grupos: Comunicação, Atividades, Reuniões com o Mercado, Estratégia e Métricas Diretas de Mensuração. A Comunicação foi a de maior relevância, apontando que RI e a companhia devam ser transparentes, apresentando as informações de modo rápido, claro e fundamentado, sendo o website de RI e as mídias eletrônicas apontadas como os principais meios. Nas Atividades realizadas por RI tomam relevância o contato e atendimento aos investidores estrangeiros; a política de distribuição de resultados; eventos futuros relevantes, como novos investimentos; a diversificação da base acionária; as análises comparativas do setor em que a companhia atua e; as atividades que favoreçam a liquidez das ações da empresa. Nas Reuniões com o Mercado, as reuniões públicas, individuais (com sell side, buy side e institucionais) e road shows, se evidenciaram como relevantes. Quanto à Estratégia em RI, evidenciou-se que a mesma deve ser traçada na Diretoria Executiva, e a área subordinada ao Presidente Executivo. Por fim, as Métricas Diretas de Mensuração apontam três itens como principais, quais sejam a quantidade de casas cobrindo a ação da empresa, o valuation médio de mercado comparado ao valuation elaborado pela própria companhia e a diminuição na volatilidade no preço da ação comparado com as companhias pares do setor. O estudo busca contribuir para que em futuras pesquisas seja possível a construção de proxies objetivas e mais justificadas para a qualidade do RI, na tentativa de quantificar o valor que a atividade de Relações com Investidores agrega à companhia aberta.