Jettawat (Arm) Pravat is a PhD candidate in the Department of International Development at King’s College London and an Anandamahidol Foundation Scholar under Thai Royal Patronage.

Prior to joining King’s, Jettawat matriculated at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, where he was awarded an MPhil in Education, Globalisation, and International Development. He also holds a BA (Political Science) in Politics and International Relations with first-class honours from Thammasat University, Thailand. Alongside his doctoral studies, he serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for various undergraduate modules in International Development.

Research

Thesis title: "The Political Economy of Skills Upgrading in Thailand’s Industrial Sectors under the Middle-Income Trap: Institutions, Global Production, and Universities"

Jettawat’s PhD research examines the political economy of economic catch-up in latecomer economies, asking whether and under what conditions skills and firm upgrading can occur despite the structural constraints associated with the so-called “middle-income trap.” The thesis seeks to bridge three strands of scholarship: (1) institutionalist approaches to development, particularly the Varieties of Capitalism; (2) global value chains; and (3) national innovation systems, with a focus on university–industry linkages. Empirically, the study draws on Thailand’s automotive and semiconductor sectors to shed light on broader patterns of industrial transformation in emerging economies.

His broader areas of academic interest include:

• Political Economy of International Development
• Economic Catch-Up and Developmental States in East Asia
• The Middle-Income Trap in Southeast Asia
• Global Value Chains and Industrial Upgrading
• Skills Formation, Innovation Systems, and Higher Education

PhD supervision

• Principal Supervisor: Dr Ye Liu
• Secondary Supervisor: Dr Nahee Kang

Further details

See Jettawat's research profile