Knowledge And Public Interest In Everyday Law: A Case Study Of Communities In The Tak Special Economic Zone

Abstract

This study investigates the levels of legal knowledge and public interest in everyday law among residents of the Tak Special Economic Zone (SEZ), emphasizing demographic variation and the relationship between knowledge and interest. Using a cross-sectional survey of households across the SEZ, the analysis assessed respondents’ understanding of life-cycle laws, civil transactions, and routine administrative procedures, as well as their interest in legal topics that affect daily living. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to identify patterns and group differences. The findings show that respondents generally possessed strong knowledge of legal procedures involving direct interaction with state authorities, including birth and death registration, inheritance processes, and compulsory military service. Knowledge was also relatively high in common financial and contractual matters such as pawn transactions, hire-purchase agreements, and mortgage rules. Significant differences emerged across occupational and educational groups, highlighting the influence of socioeconomic factors on legal literacy. In contrast, knowledge of more complex or formalistic legal areas particularly family law and contractual transfers of ownership was comparatively limited. Despite overall high levels of legal knowledge, respondents’ interest in everyday law did not significantly correlate with their actual knowledge. Instead, interest was concentrated in legal domains tied to economic security, property transfer, and financial risk, especially among older adults and lower-income households. These results underscore the need for targeted, context-specific legal literacy initiatives that address both cognitive understanding and perceived relevance. The study contributes to current scholarship by illustrating how legal knowledge and legal interest operate as distinct dimensions within rapidly developing border-economic settings such as the Tak SEZ.