Dr. Athipatpong Monthathicharoen from Chulalongkorn University's Economics Faculty argues that if the government extends the "Thai Help Thai Plus" (60/40) Phase 2 subsidy program, it must clarify whether the goal is alleviating hardship or stimulating the economy. With ~40 billion baht remaining in budget, he recommends targeting groups with high marginal propensity to consume, reconsidering the costly 60/40 format, and addressing potential market distortions from extended implementation. He emphasizes the scheme risks becoming a populist tool politicians favor for quick vote-getting rather than a sustainable long-term economic measure.