GOOD GOVERNANCE AND MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION: A MIXED-METHODS EVALUATION IN NORTHEASTERN THAILAND

This study comprehensively investigates municipal administration within the context of good governance in Thailand’s upper northeastern provinces—Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, and Bueng Kan. Employing a convergent mixed-methods design, the research evaluates administrative effectiveness, examines the precise impact of specific governance principles, and proposes actionable developmental guidelines. The study systematically collected quantitative data from 398 stakeholders, including citizens and municipal staff, and qualitative insights from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 seasoned municipal administrators. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that good governance principles collectively account for 75% of the variance in municipal administration (Adjusted R² = .75, p < .001). Notably, accountability, participation, cost-effectiveness, and morality exhibited robust, statistically significant positive effects on administrative performance. In contrast, the rule of law and transparency functioned as baseline institutional prerequisites rather than independent performance drivers. The qualitative findings fundamentally reinforce that cultivating active accountability mechanisms, structured participatory governance, and stringent internal auditing are vital for advancing sustainable municipal administration.