2010

By ATS Education Award Winner Nick Powdthavee

PUBLICATION DATE: 5 August 2010
£14.99, Hardback, ISBN 978-184831-166-4

A past Anglo-Thai Society Education Award winner, Dr. Nattavudh (Nick) Powdthavee is a researcher in applied micro-econometrics, happiness data, health economics, labour economics and experimental and behavioural economics at the University of York. In his book he tackles some profound questions such as: How much is a friendship worth and why is marriage worth £200k a year? Why does happiness from winning a lottery take two years to arrive? Why does time heal a divorce or a death of someone we loved but not unemployment and a severe disability? Why is it better to be a crime victim in a high crime area than in a low crime area? Are parents happier than non-parents? Everybody wants to be happy. But how much happiness precisely will each life choice bring?

Quirky, accessible and unpretentious, THE HAPPINESS EQUATION brings for the first time to a general readership the new science of the economics of happiness. It describes how we can quantify emotional reactions to different life experiences and present them in ways we can understand and relate to.

For more information please contact Najma Finlay, Publicity Director Icon Books ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / D/L 020 7700 9962)

In November 2009, ATS Vice Chairman, Dr. Orapin Dawson was invited to participate in the food tasting on Gordon Ramsey's F-Word programme, which aired on Channel 4 on 6th January, 2010.

Two Thai restaurants (Simply Thai, Teddington and Yum Yum, Stoke Newington) participated in the Semi Final after being nominated by the public. Orapin was also televised giving a 2-3 minute talk on the contestants food. Other guests invited to taste and comment on the menus at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant in Chelsea included H.E. Kitti Wasinondh, Thai Ambassador to the UK, and Ramida Vijitphan, editor of amthaipaper.

Congratulations are extended to Narisa Chakrabhongse, previous Vice Chair of the Anglo-Thai Society, who was the recent recipient of the "Kreong Rat" medal, awarded in His Majesty the King's 2008 honour list.

The award was given in recognition of Narisa's work and contribution in promoting Thai culture and friendship between Thailand and Britain during her 5 years as Vice-Chair of the Anglo-Thai Society. The medal was presented by His Excellency the Ambassador to Thailand, Kitti Wasinondh, in January 2010.