Some new academic papers on development issues in Vietnam - 2014 March 15 issue

[nv...@worldbank.org]

Some new academic papers on development issues in Vietnam - 2014 March 1 issue

**Agriculture and rural development

Food Standards are Good – For Middle-Class Farmers.
Food Standards are Good – For Middle-Class Farmers.
Henrik Hansen and Neda Trifković. World Development, 2014, volume 56, pp. 226-242.

Abstract: We estimate the causal effect of food standards on Vietnamese pangasius farmers’ wellbeing measured by per capita consumption expenditure. We estimate both the average effects and the local average treatment effects on poorer and richer farmers by instrumental variable quantile regression. Our results indicate that large returns can be accrued from food standards, but only for the upper middle-class farmers, i.e., those between the 50% and 85% quantiles of the expenditure distribution. Overall, our result points to an exclusionary impact of standards for the poorest farmers while the richest do not apply standards because the added gain is too small. [sci-dir].

From Challenges to Sustainable Solutions for Upland Agriculture in Southeast Asia.
From Challenges to Sustainable Solutions for Upland Agriculture in Southeast Asia.
Pepijn Schreinemachers, HolgerL Fröhlich and others. in: Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 3-27.

Abstract: Agriculture carried out in the mountainous areas of Southeast Asia is intensifying rapidly, driven as it is by economic growth, policy changes, the introduction of new technologies and population growth. Rice, the dominant crop, is giving way to a greater variety of cash crops such as maize, vegetables, fruits, flowers and rubber. Building on a long-term interdisciplinary research project run by the University of Hohenheim over the period 2000–2014, in collaboration with various universities and research institutes in Thailand and Vietnam, we discuss three interrelated problems that tend to accompany land use intensification in mountainous areas, these being rapid land degradation, increasing levels of pesticide use and pollution, and persistent poverty. We set the framework for this book by introducing these problems and discussing how research into the development, testing and adaptation of innovations, as well as the development of knowledge on mountainous land use systems, has contributed to more sustainable land use and rural development among the mountainous areas of Southeast Asia. [Schreinemachers-etal-2014.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33377-4_1.

How are REDD+ Proponents Addressing Tenure Problems? Evidence from Brazil, Cameroon, Tanzania, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
How are REDD+ Proponents Addressing Tenure Problems? Evidence from Brazil, Cameroon, Tanzania, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
William D. Sunderlin, Anne M. Larson and others. World Development, 2014, volume 55, pp. 37-52.

Abstract: This paper assesses proponent activities to address tenure insecurity in light of actions required for effective and equitable implementation of REDD+. Field research was carried out at 19 REDD+ project sites and 71 villages in Brazil, Cameroon, Tanzania, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Results show proponents addressed tenure insecurity by demarcating village and forest boundaries and identifying legal right holders, but were limited in their ability to resolve local tenure challenges that were national in origin and scope. Still needed are national tenure actions, integration of national and local tenure efforts, clarification of international and national REDD+ policies, and conflict resolution mechanisms. [sci-dir].

Improved Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for Small-Scale Farmers in Northern Vietnam.
Improved Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for Small-Scale Farmers in Northern Vietnam.
Johannes Pucher, Silke Steinbronn and others. in: Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 281-317.

Abstract: Aquaculture is an important part of the farming system for ethnic Black Thai farmers in the uplands of Son La province, providing cash income and protein rich food for home consumption. The current aquaculture system, with grass carp as its main fish species, is a feed-based system, with leaf material from banana, maize and cassava as well as weeds and by-products from other farming activities, used as key inputs. As with all other feed-based aquaculture systems, this system depends on a constant flow of water in order to supply oxygen; however, the system is limited by feed and water availability and is threatened by a disease that affects only grass carp. This chapter provides a detailed description of the use of aquaculture within the Black Thai’s farming system, an analysis of the feed resources currently used therein, as well as of those resources that may potentially be used. It also provides an analysis of grass carp diseases as well as a description of innovatory aquaculture practices geared towards replacing the disease susceptible grass carp with common carp, as the main species. These suggested modifications are based on the enhanced production of natural food in ponds and the application of supplemental feeds partly based upon on-farm resources. Finally, the potential for earthworms to be used as a high quality feed ingredient, one which can be produced on-farm from currently not used or underutilized resources, is studied in terms of the production of supplemental feed for the common carp. [Pucher-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33377-4_8.

Integrated Modeling of Agricultural Systems in Mountainous Areas.
Integrated Modeling of Agricultural Systems in Mountainous Areas.
Carsten Marohn, Georg Cadisch and others. in: Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 367-432.

Abstract: People’s decisions with respect to agricultural land use and management practices have had a major impact on natural resource degradation in Vietnam and Thailand for centuries. In addition to an ever-increasing population density, economic transformation and market integration have exacerbated the pressure on natural resources in the rural areas of both countries, particularly during recent decades. From its beginning, the Uplands Program has sought to address research questions related to the impacts of land use management on natural resource degradation at the landscape level in Southeast Asian countries, as have researchers linked to the Program in the area. Integrated modeling of land cover and land use change, as a means to simulate effects which extend over various spatial and temporal scales or scientific domains, began to play a more prominent role within the Uplands Program after 2006. This chapter highlights modeling approaches and decision support tools used as part of the Uplands Program to investigate various research questions at the human–biophysical interface, and will compare modeling approaches, looking at the issues of land use and management impacts from different angles, whereby the different focuses used by each model have resulted in different levels of detail and precision in various respects. [Marohn-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33377-4_10.

Participatory Approaches to Research and Development in the Southeast Asian Uplands: Potential and Challenges.
Participatory Approaches to Research and Development in the Southeast Asian Uplands: Potential and Challenges.
Andreas Neef, Benchaphun Ekasingh and others. in: Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 321-365.

Abstract: Participatory approaches have been discussed as alternatives to and complementary elements of more conventional research on sustainable land use and rural development in upland areas of Southeast Asia. Following a brief overview of the history of participatory approaches (Sect. 9.1), this chapter discusses the potential and limitations of applying Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools to field research practice in Vietnam (Sect. 9.2) and of involving stakeholders in priority setting, modeling and environmental valuation in the Southeast Asian uplands (Sect. 9.3). Section 9.4 scrutinizes the use of the Payments for Environmental Services (PES) tool, which aims to actively engage smallholder farmers in preserving fragile mountain ecosystems in Southeast Asia by rewarding them in cash or in kind. Section 9.5 provides an example of a successful multi-stakeholder knowledge and innovation partnership in northern Thailand – in the form of a litchi processing and marketing network formed among Hmong villagers, an approach which uses a promising action-research approach towards building sustainable rural livelihoods among ethnic minority groups. [Neef-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33377-4_9.

Policies for Sustainable Development: The Commercialization of Smallholder Agriculture.
Policies for Sustainable Development: The Commercialization of Smallholder Agriculture.
Manfred Zeller, Susanne Ufer and others. in: Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 463-490.

Abstract: Sustainable development requires a mix of policies that can simultaneously address social, economic and environmental objectives. While the preceding chapters of this book have focused on agricultural, environmental and socio-economic aspects and related policies, this chapter looks at the commercialization of smallholder agriculture and, in particular, the need to target the poor so as to enable them to better participate in market-oriented development. The mountainous regions of northern Thailand and northern Vietnam have witnessed a substantial transformation over the last two decades, turning as they have from largely subsistence-oriented to market-oriented agriculture. This development began in Thailand earlier than in Vietnam, but during the 2000s, smallholder agriculture in Vietnam also commercialized at a rapid rate, leading to an increase in farm incomes and a decline in poverty levels. Our main policy conclusion here is that the commercialization of agriculture can be conducive to a sustainable increase in smallholder incomes and reduction of poverty levels; however, policies aimed at addressing the environmental externalities caused by market participation must be combined with socially-oriented policies that target poorer segments of the population, especially in the areas of education, health, social assistance, political participation and non-subsidized credit, as well as infrastructure and market-oriented development policies aimed at long-run sustainability. [Zeller-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33377-4_12.

Rethinking Knowledge Provision for the Marginalized: Rural Networks and Novel Extension Approaches in Vietnam.
Rethinking Knowledge Provision for the Marginalized: Rural Networks and Novel Extension Approaches in Vietnam.
Iven Schad, ThaiThi Minh and others. in: Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 433-461.

Abstract: The Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) in Vietnam has undergone massive changes over the last decades. Initially triggered by an economic reform process (Doi Moi) initiated in 1986, the system was formalized by the first decree on agricultural extension in 1993 (GSRV (Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) (1993) Nghị Định 13/CP Về Công Tác Khuyến Nông (Decree 13/CP (2 March 1993) on the establishment and function the national agricultural extension system). Hanoi) and gradually liberalized over the following years. Along with this liberalization, new spaces opened that allowed a growing plurification of knowledge system actors. However, the traditional orientation towards technology transfer was maintained. In the era of rapid growth since that time, an unprecedented experimentation with different approaches to extension has been set-up, with the government’s willingness to allow a more diverse AKIS particularly reflected in the second and, more recently, the third decree on extension. Topics such as food security, income and poverty alleviation have come more into focus, as the move towards a full liberalization of the extension system has continued. The general aims of this chapter are to (a) provide an overview of the historical development of rural advisory and knowledge provision in Vietnam, and how legal frameworks have changed over time, (b) demonstrate how more client-centered extension approaches can be translated and utilized at the field level, and (c) focus on examples of novel approaches to knowledge generation and diffusion, those currently evolving due to initiatives driven by state, private and NGO actors, or developed within the framework of the Uplands Program. The final section provides an outlook on where the extension system stands at this point and what still needs to be done, drawing a differentiated but basically positive conclusion about the willingness to reform and the pace of the reform process in Vietnam. [Schad-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33377-4_11.

Women's differentiated vulnerability and adaptations to climate-related agricultural water scarcity in rural Central Vietnam.
Women's differentiated vulnerability and adaptations to climate-related agricultural water scarcity in rural Central Vietnam.
Phuong T. A. Huynh and Bernadette P. Resurreccion. Climate and Development, 2014, pp. 1-12.

Abstract: This field-based study applies a mixed methods approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative analyses to investigate the differences in women's vulnerability and adaptations to climate-related agricultural water scarcity in Ky Nam commune, Central Vietnam. The study highlights the heterogeneity of women as a group and their intersectional dynamics as they adapt to increasing agricultural water scarcity on their rural livelihoods. The findings show that social differences including gender, class, household headship, age and stage of life shape women's differentiated experiences in vulnerability in access to water, to forestland and credit; in turn mark their adaptation differentiation to climate-related agricultural water scarcity. It also stresses that existing development policies can cause inequality in resource access in practice, running the risk of further marginalizing certain groups of women, especially female heads of household. Meanwhile, the current National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change of Vietnam is blind to issues of women's differentiated vulnerability and adaptive capacity. This study suggests that if these current development and adaptation measures do not pay proper attention to differentiated gender experience, it is likely to exacerbate the vulnerabilities of those affected, particularly female heads of household, rather than help them. In addition, these development and climate programmes have to be redesigned to accommodate more context-specific policies instead of one-size-fits-all packages that will effectively address women's (and men's) differential needs and unequal relations and circumstances. [T&F].

Agricultural Pesticide Use in Mountainous Areas of Thailand and Vietnam: Towards Reducing Exposure and Rationalizing Use.
Agricultural Pesticide Use in Mountainous Areas of Thailand and Vietnam: Towards Reducing Exposure and Rationalizing Use.
Marc Lamers, Pepijn Schreinemachers and others. in: Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 149-173.

Abstract: A change in land use from the growing of upland rice to the cultivation of cash crops has increased the level of use of synthetic pesticides in the mountainous areas of Thailand and Vietnam. Although this increase has occurred generally across both countries, it has been especially prevalent in mountainous areas. The objective of this chapter is to describe the challenges faced when wishing to reduce the risks caused by the use of agricultural pesticides in mountainous areas, both from an economic and a biophysical point of view. Building on case studies from Thailand and Vietnam, we show how the potential risk of pesticide use is related to the limited experience farmers have in handling pesticides, and the hydrological relationships between highland and lowland areas. [Lamers-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33377-4_4.

Women and Food Security: A Comparison of South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Women and Food Security: A Comparison of South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Arpita Mathur. South Asian Survey, 2011, volume 18, number 2, pp. 181-206.

Abstract: Women as a social group are vulnerable to food insecurity despite being primary actors in the food chain. The problem is especially rampant in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The drivers of this vulnerability range from economic to social, cultural, legal and psychological factors. Vulnerability to food insecurity has a definite effect on the health of women and children, as well as social and economic impacts in terms of fewer opportunities for education and greater instances of early marriages. A comparison of indicators used to assess vulnerabilities of women in the two regions shows that the overall situation in South Asia is worse than that in Southeast Asia. There is also a conspicuous difference in terms of the relative weight of the drivers behind this vulnerability. The primary securitising actors at the national, regional and international levels have to play an individual and collective role in rectifying the situation. It is equally mandatory for regional groupings such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to provide a sound systemic environment for individual countries to work towards achieving these objectives.


**Financial sector

The Capital Investment Decision under Inflation in Vietnam: A Case Study.
The Capital Investment Decision under Inflation in Vietnam: A Case Study.
Chen-Chang Lo, Yaling Lin and others. Asian Economic and Financial Review, 2013, volume 3, number 10, pp. 1337-60.

Abstract: Inflation and its adverse impacts on the economy are attacking Vietnamese enterprises at two-digit level at present. The managers need the effective foreseeing tools to prepare their budget to be suitable to the complex evolvement of market economy and wait in front of the possible risks in future. A Cash Budget model which contains the trends of changes in variables under the impact of inflation will help Vietnamese soldering sticks manufacturers to control operational capital sources and forecast on the necessary borrowings as well as the payments in the near future better. ANOVA F-test experiments give the company more alternative choices between different types of machines and outline the initial investment costs of project. Finally, Capital Budgeting methods will assist in checking the long-term effectiveness of the investment. The theories on relationship between normal interest rate, real interest rate and inflation rate such as the Fisher equation, the discount rate of Cash flows therefore are studied carefully to discuss, argue and give out the deep understanding and new perceptions.

Does East Asia Have a Working Financial Safety Net?
Does East Asia Have a Working Financial Safety Net?
Jayant Menon and Hal Hill. Asian Economic Journal, 2014, volume 28, number 1, pp. 1-17.

Abstract: Financial safety nets in Asia have come a long way since the Asian financial crisis (AFC) of 1997/1998. With Asian countries not wanting to rely solely on the IMF again, the Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI) was created in 2000. When the CMI also proved inadequate following the global financial crisis, it was first multilateralized (CMIM), and then doubled in size to US$240bn, while the IMF de-linked portion was increased to 30 percent of the available country quotas. A surveillance unit, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, was set up in 2001. These are impressive developments, but are they enough to make the CMIM workable? Without clear and rapid-response procedures to handle a fast-developing financial emergency, we argue that it is unlikely that the CMIM will be used even as a complement to the IMF. To serve as a stand-alone option, however, its size or the IMF de-linked portion of funds needs to be further increased, as does its membership, to add diversity. Only if the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office can develop into an independent and credible surveillance authority would it then perhaps be in a position to lead the next rescue. [Wiley].

Lending Rate Spread Shock and Monetary Policy Arrangements: A Small Open Economy Model for ASEAN Countries.
Lending Rate Spread Shock and Monetary Policy Arrangements: A Small Open Economy Model for ASEAN Countries.
Taiyo Yoshimi. Asian Economic Journal, 2014, volume 28, number 1, pp. 19-39.

Abstract: We investigate the welfare implications of monetary policy arrangements in a small open economy, considering firms' bank-based finances that are widely observed in emerging ASEAN countries. The impact of an unexpected change in the lending rate spread, or a lending rate spread shock, depends on the presence of banking activity in the economy. This presence is important in Malaysia and Vietnam, where welfare effects of this type of shock are at least comparable to those of foreign monetary policy shocks. We also find that a rigid exchange rate arrangement amplifies the effect of a shock. [Wiley].

Estimating the Output Gap to Support the Management of Interest Rates in Vietnam.
Estimating the Output Gap to Support the Management of Interest Rates in Vietnam.
Nguyen Huong Giang. Graduate Institute of Geneva. International and Development Studies Working Paper No. 05/2014, 2014.

Abstract: In this paper, I apply three methods to estimate the output gap for Vietnam to support the conduct of monetary policy of the State Bank: the Hodrick-Prescott Filter, the production function approach and Bayesian estimation. I then compare the results obtained from these approaches and discuss their advantages and disadvantages to choose the optimal method for the estimation of the output gap for the State Bank of Vietnam. For the Bayesian approach, my paper closedly relies on the paper of Tim Willems (2011) with some modifications to fit the situation of Vietnam. The output gap estimated by Bayesian method appears to be the most consistent with the economic developments of Vietnam. [Giang-2014.pdf]. Free full text http://repec.graduateinstitute.ch/pdfs/Working_papers/HEIDWP05-2014.pdf.


**Economic development

Income convergence dynamics in ASEAN and SAARC blocs.
Income convergence dynamics in ASEAN and SAARC blocs.
Sakiru Adebola Solarin, Elsadig Musa Ahmed and Jauhari Dahalan. New Zealand Economic Papers, 2014, pp. 1-16.

Abstract: This paper examines whether convergence of real income exists among the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries for the period covering 1970?2009. Univariate Lagrange Multiplier (LM) unit root tests with structural break(s) are employed to check for the incidence of stochastic convergence, which is necessary for conditional convergence as proposed in the neoclassical model. We further examine the presence of ?-convergence, which is considered as the sufficient requirement for conditional convergence. Test results suggest convergence among ASEAN members, with the absence of convergence in SAARC member countries. [T&F].

Status and challenges of ISO 9001 quality system adoption among wooden furniture manufacturers in Malaysia and Vietnam.
Status and challenges of ISO 9001 quality system adoption among wooden furniture manufacturers in Malaysia and Vietnam.
J. Ratnasingam and F. Ioras. International Wood Products Journal, 2014.

Abstract: The ISO 9001 quality system is being advocated as a management tool to boost the performance of wooden furniture manufacturers in the South East Asian region. A study was therefore conducted to evaluate the status and challenges of the ISO 9001 quality system adoption among wooden furniture manufacturers in Malaysia and Vietnam. The data were compiled through direct-interviews of 100 wooden furniture manufacturers (of which 25 were ISO 9001 certified companies) using a structured questionnaire, which had four parts. The results found that ISO 9001 adoption was relatively low among furniture manufacturers due to its high implementation cost and lack of market demand, although the ISO 9001 certified companies were much more productive than their non-certified counterparts. It was also apparent that the certified furniture manufacturers were focused on producing quality furniture cost effectively, derived primarily from their lower degree of operational inefficiencies. Nevertheless, the demand for ISO certification is market-specific, as Japanese, Korean, European and Middle Eastern furniture buyers show preferences for dealing with certified companies. Therefore, the benefits of ISO 9001 quality system through greater market access and increased productivity in the mills must become more apparent, before significant adoption among wooden furniture manufacturers can be realised.


**Education and training

Exploring Vietnamese children's experiences of, and views on, learning at primary school in rural and remote communities.
Exploring Vietnamese children's experiences of, and views on, learning at primary school in rural and remote communities.
Renata Phelps, Anne Graham and others. International Journal of Educational Development, 2014.

Abstract: Developing countries face an urgent imperative to enhance the equity, quality and relevance of their education provision. Many international non-government organisations (NGOs) involved in such countries seek to work collaboratively with government organisations and communities to establish infrastructure, ensure equity in provision, build teachers’ skills and raise participation rates. The views of children themselves are critical in ensuring that both educational policy and service provision are sensitive and responsive to their needs, and therefore more likely to work. This paper reports on a study which talked to rural Vietnamese children about their learning, including what they liked and did not like about their schools, what helps them learn, their relationships and sense of wellbeing at school, and their perceptions of the value of learning for their futures. The research challenged some prevailing assumptions about children's voice and agency in rural Vietnamese society while pointing to the possibilities and benefits of viewing children as partners in education rather than simply as beneficiaries. [sci-dir].


**Environment

Choice modeling: assessing the non-market environmental values of the biodiversity conservation of swamp forest in Vietnam.
Choice modeling: assessing the non-market environmental values of the biodiversity conservation of swamp forest in Vietnam.
HuynhViet Khai and Mitsuyasu Yabe. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 2014, volume 5, number 1, pp. 1-8.

Abstract: The study investigated the economic value of biodiversity attributes that could provide policy makers reliable information to estimate welfare losses due to biodiversity reductions and analyze the trade-off between biodiversity and economics. To obtain the non-market benefits of biodiversity conservation, an indirect utility function and willingness to pay for biodiversity attributes were applied using the approach of choice modeling with the analysis of multinomial logit model. The study found that Mekong Delta residents accepted their willingness to pay of VND 913 monthly for a 1 % increase in healthy vegetation, VND 360 for an additional mammal species and VND 2,440 to avoid the welfare losses of 100 local farmers. [Khai&Yabe-2014.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40095-014-0077-5.

Industrial wastewater reuse by airlift external membrane bioreactor.
Industrial wastewater reuse by airlift external membrane bioreactor.
Xuan-Thanh Bui, Linh-Thy Le and others. Sustainable Environment Research, 2014, volume 24, number 1, pp. 41-47.

Abstract: Water reuse is becoming increasingly popular all over the world which requires advanced wastewater treatment processes to achieve the standards required for reuse. This study investigated the permeate quality and fouling propensity of the Airlift External Membrane Bioreactor (AE-MBR). This pilot system was used to treat common industrial effluents from industrial park with the majority of food industries. The AE-MBR system was located at the central effluent treatment plant of Tan Binh IP in Ho Chi Minh city. The influent of the AE-MBR system was taken directly from the equalization tank of the existing treatment system. The AE-member was maintained at the organic loading rate of 1.0-1.8 kg COD m^-3 d ^-1, hydraulic retention time of 9.6 h and the sludge retention time of 30 d during the study period. The flux of membrane ranged from 30-40 L m^-2 h^-1. The energy con- sumption of the AE-MBR system was approximately 0.6 kWh m^-3 d. The permeate quality complied with the reuse requirements for applications such as agricultural reuse for non-food crops, landscape irrigation, aesthetic uses, ground water recharge, industrial uses and fire protection.

Temporal changes in the hydrochemical facies of groundwater quality in two main aquifers in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Temporal changes in the hydrochemical facies of groundwater quality in two main aquifers in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Thuy Thanh Nguyen, Akira Kawamura and others., Paper prepared for the 6th International conference on water resources and environmental research: Water and environmental dynamics - Koblenz - Germany - 3-7 June 2013, 2014.

Abstract: Groundwater is the major source for drinking and domestic water in Hanoi, Vietnam. A clear understanding of the processes that influence its hydrochemical properties would be of invaluable use in management and protection of this important water resource. In this study, the temporal changes in the hydrochemical facies in the confined and unconfined aquifers in Hanoi were investigated using the water quality data from 10 and 16 sampling wells of Holocene unconfined and Pleistocene confined aquifers, respectively, taken in 1993, 2003 and 2011. The hydrochemical type in each aquifer of each well was determined using the Piper diagram method. Results indicate that the two main aquifers in Hanoi are predominated by the calcium cation and bicarbonate anion types. Results also show that the hydrochemical facies remain mostly unchanged not only in the Pleistocene confined aquifer but also in the Holocene unconfined aquifer, in which, the chemical characteristics of the groundwater in the latter are affected directly by precipitation, infiltration of water through soil, and anthropogenic activities. This implies that the hydrochemical facies is controlled by the materials that are naturally occurring in the aquifers. [Thuy-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://www.water-environment.org/proceedings_pdf/ICWRER2013_Proceedings_p374-387.pdf.

Water and Matter Flows in Mountainous Watersheds of Southeast Asia: Processes and Implications for Management.
Water and Matter Flows in Mountainous Watersheds of Southeast Asia: Processes and Implications for Management.
HolgerL Fröhlich, Joachim Ingwersen and others. in: Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 109-148.

Abstract: The mountainous ecosystems of Southeast Asia have experienced a tremendous increase in human activity over the last few decades. An integral part of land use change and land use intensification in the area is the changes in water and matter cycling that have taken place, a situation which calls for increased attention to be paid to resource management, particularly given the environmental vulnerability of the region. Building on four case studies that describe the consequences of such change and provide implications for resource management with regard to flooding, nutrient stocks and fluxes, and the fate of pesticides, we develop a general perspective on current matter and water related issues. This perspective will require us to integrate (1) knowledge on water and matter related processes, (2) the spa tial and temporal scales on which they are active and through which they connect inside a watershed, and (3) their physiographic (site and land use specific) domains. [Frohlich-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33377-4_3.


**Health  

Antibiotic sales in rural and urban pharmacies in northern Vietnam: an observational study.
Antibiotic sales in rural and urban pharmacies in northern Vietnam: an observational study.
D. T. Nga, N. T. Chuc and others. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol, 2014, volume 15, number 1, p. 6.

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The irrational overuse of antibiotics should be minimized as it drives the development of antibiotic resistance, but changing these practices is challenging. A better understanding is needed of practices and economic incentives for antibiotic dispensing in order to design effective interventions to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use. Here we report on both quantitative and qualitative aspects of antibiotic sales in private pharmacies in northern Vietnam.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which all drug sales were observed and recorded for three consecutive days at thirty private pharmacies, 15 urban and 15 rural, in the Hanoi region in 2010. The proportion of antibiotics to total drug sales was assessed and the revenue was calculated for rural and urban settings. Pharmacists and drug sellers were interviewed by a semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews to understand the incentive structure of antibiotic dispensing.

RESULTS: In total 2953 drug sale transactions (2083 urban and 870 rural) were observed. Antibiotics contributed 24% and 18% to the total revenue of pharmacies in urban and rural, respectively. Most antibiotics were sold without a prescription: 88% in urban and 91% in rural pharmacies. The most frequent reported reason for buying antibiotics was cough in the urban setting (32%) and fever in the rural area (22%). Consumers commonly requested antibiotics without having a prescription: 50% in urban and 28% in rural area. The qualitative data revealed that drug sellers and customer's knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance were low, particularly in rural area.

CONCLUSION: Over the counter sales of antibiotic without a prescription remains a major problem in Vietnam. Suggested areas of improvement are enforcement of regulations and pricing policies and educational programs to increase the knowledge of drug sellers as well as to increase community awareness to reduce demand-side pressure for drug sellers to dispense antibiotics inappropriately. [Nga-etal-2014.pdf]. Free full text http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24555709.

Cigarette price level and variation in five Southeast Asian countries.
Cigarette price level and variation in five Southeast Asian countries.
Alex C Liber, Hana Ross and others. Tobacco Control, 2014.

Abstract:

Objectives To monitor and analyse impacts of the interaction between tobacco excise tax policy and industry price strategy, on the price level and variation of cigarettes sold in five Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Vietnam).

Methods Prices of cigarette sold by sticks and packs were collected through an in-person survey of retailers during 2011. Mean cigarette prices and price variation were calculated in each study country for single cigarettes, whole packs and brand groups.

Results Price variation of whole packs was greater in countries with ad-valorem excise tax structures (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) than in countries with multitiered specific excise taxes (Indonesia and the Philippines). The price variation for single sticks appeared to be driven by local currency denomination. Cigarettes sold individually cost more per stick than cigarettes sold in whole packs in every brand group except for Indonesia's domestic brands.

Conclusions Tobacco industry strategy and excise tax structure drove the price level and variation of cigarettes sold in packs, while currency denominations influence the selling price of single sticks. To maximise the effectiveness of tobacco tax policies, countries should adopt specific excise tax structures to decrease cigarette price variation, which would minimise opportunities for smokers to ‘trade down’ to a cheaper brand to avoid a tax-driven price increase. Free full text http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2014/03/06/tobaccocontrol-2013-051184.abstract.

Determination of PCDD/Fs in breast milk of women living in the vicinities of Da Nang Agent Orange hot spot (Vietnam) and est...
Determination of PCDD/Fs in breast milk of women living in the vicinities of Da Nang Agent Orange hot spot (Vietnam) and estimation of the infant's daily intake.
N. T. M. Hue, V. D. Nam and others. Science of The Total Environment, 2014.

Abstract: Seventeen toxic congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in breast milks using the high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) method. Twenty seven breast milk samples were collected from primiparae who have lived over 5 years in wards namely Chinh Gian, An Khe, Khue Trung, and Hoa Thuan Tay which are located near the Da Nang Agent Orange hot spot (the AO/Dioxin hot spot). The samples were then analyzed for PCDD/F residues in order to assess the human exposure to dioxins from the AO/Dioxin hot spot, especially health risk to the breast-fed infants. The average TEQ levels in the four studied cohorts ranged from 8.1 to 26 pg/g lipid, with the highest level up to 51 pg TEQ/g lipid found in the An Khe ward. The TEQ level was correlated with geographical position and ranking in the order of Khue Trung, Hoa Thuan Tay, Chinh Gian and An Khe. The mean estimated PCDD/Fs infant's daily intake in the cohort of Khue Trung, Hoa Thuan Tay, Chinh Gian and An Khe was about 41, 122, 124, and 134 pg TEQ/kg bw/day, respectively, which are much higher than the tolerable daily intake proposed by the World Health Organization (4 pg TEQ/kg bw/day). [sci-dir].

Factors Associated with Drug Use Among Male Motorbike Taxi Drivers in Urban Vietnam.
Factors Associated with Drug Use Among Male Motorbike Taxi Drivers in Urban Vietnam.
Huy Van Nguyen, Thinh Toan Vu and Ha Nguyen Pham. Substance Use & Misuse, 2014.

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 291 male motorbike taxi drivers (MMTDs) recruited through social mapping technique in Hanoi, Vietnam, for face-to-face interviews to examine factors associated with drug use among MMTDs using Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills (IMB) model. Among 291 MMTDs, 17.18% reported drug use sometime in their lives, 96% of whom were drug injectors. Being depressed, being originally borne in urban cities, currently residing in rural areas, having a longer time living apart from their wives/lovers, using alcohol, following Buddhism, and reporting lower motivation of HIV prevention predict significantly higher odds of uptaking drugs.

Herbs, Laboratories, and Revolution: On the Making of a National Medicine in Vietnam.
Herbs, Laboratories, and Revolution: On the Making of a National Medicine in Vietnam.
Ayo Wahlberg. East Asian Science, Technology and Society, 2014, volume 8, number 1, pp. 43-56.

Abstract: This article examines the making of a national medicine in Vietnam. How can it be that the medical traditions in Vietnam came to be described as Vietnamese during the course of the twentieth century? In this article, I suggest that historical contingencies in Vietnam have facilitated what might be thought of as a “doctrine of combination,” somewhat in contrast to the institutionalized and contentious separation of, for example, Chinese and Korean medicine from modern medicine. In particular, I show how when it came to traditional medicine, Hồ Chí Minh and the people around him responsible for health-care-related issues were on the “offensive” from the very outset of their nation-building efforts.

How much do I save if I use my health insurance card when seeking outpatient care? Evidence from a low-income country.
How much do I save if I use my health insurance card when seeking outpatient care? Evidence from a low-income country.
Ardeshir Sepehri. Health Policy and Planning, 2014, volume 29, number 2, pp. 246-256.

Abstract: Much of the existing literature on the financial protection of health insurance focuses on the impact of insurance status on total out-of-pocket expenditure on all sorts of care sought, regardless of whether the insured patients use their health insurance cards. Using Vietnam’s 2006 Household Living Standard Survey data and an appropriate multivariate regression model, this article assesses the influence of Vietnam’s three health insurance schemes on out-of-pocket expenditures with and without controlling for the actual use of the health insurance card when seeking outpatient care. Vietnam’s experience suggests that insurance provides some financial protection, provided that insurance benefits are actually accessed. Compared with private fee-paying patients, the use of the insurance card reduces out-of-pocket expenditures, on average, by as much as 50–56%. In contrast, failure to control for the use of the health insurance card reduces the financial protection of insurance to 26–37%. However, the financial protection benefits afforded by Vietnam’s insurance schemes are distributed rather inequitably. Insurance reduces out-of-pocket expenditures by as much as 71–75% for contacts at the major state hospitals, as compared with 26–38% for contacts at the community health centres. The overall financial protection provided by insurance is also found to be larger for the higher-income individuals than the middle- and low-income individuals. Efforts to ensure that all enrollees receive equitable and good-quality health services according to the benefits package appear warranted. Improving the quality of care provided by the community health centres—the main access point for medical care for many enrollees with health insurance for the poor coverage—and a more effective referral system may also be a cost-effective way of channelling outpatient service contact to the lower-level health facilities, away from the overcrowded higher-level health facilities.

Is franchising in health care valuable? A systematic review.
Is franchising in health care valuable? A systematic review.
Karlijn J. Nijmeijer, Isabelle N. Fabbricotti and Robbert Huijsman. Health Policy and Planning, 2014, volume 29, number 2, pp. 164-176.

Abstract: Background Franchising is an organizational form that originates from the business sector. It is increasingly used in the healthcare sector with the aim of enhancing quality and accessibility for patients, improving the efficiency and competitiveness of organizations and/or providing professionals with a supportive working environment. However, a structured overview of the scientific evidence for these claims is absent, whereas such an overview can be supportive to scholars, policy makers and franchise practitioners.Methods This article provides a systematic review of literature on the outcomes of franchising in health care. Seven major databases were systematically searched. Peer-reviewed empirical journal articles focusing on the relationship between franchising and outcomes were included. Eventually, 15 articles were included and their findings were narratively synthesized. The level of evidence was rated by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation scale.Results The review shows that outcomes of franchising in health care have primarily been evaluated in low- and middle-income countries in the reproductive health/family planning sector. Articles about high-income countries are largely absent, apart from three articles evaluating pharmacy franchises. Most studies focus on outcomes for customers/clients and less on organizations and professionals. The evidence is primarily of low quality. Based on this evidence, franchising is predominantly positively associated with client volumes, physical accessibility and some types of quality. Findings regarding utilization, customer loyalty, efficiency and results for providers are mixed.Conclusions We conclude that franchising has the potential to improve outcomes in healthcare practices, but the evidence base is yet too weak for firm conclusions. Extensive research is needed to further determine the value of healthcare franchising in various contexts. We advocate more research in other healthcare sectors in both low- and middle-income countries and high-income countries, on more types of outcomes with attention to trade-offs, and on what factors produce those outcomes.

Micronutrient Intakes among Women of Reproductive Age in Vietnam.
Micronutrient Intakes among Women of Reproductive Age in Vietnam.
Phuong H. Nguyen, Hieu Nguyen and others. PLoS ONE, 2014, volume 9, number 2, p. e89504.

Abstract:

-- Background: Micronutrient deficiencies are a public health concern worldwide negatively affecting maternal and child health outcomes. The primary underlying causes of micronutrient deficiencies are insufficient intake and poor bioavailability of micronutrients. However, reliable data on micronutrient intakes are sparse. The objectives of this study were to identify the key local food sources providing the majority of micronutrients and assess the adequacy and determinants of micronutrient intakes.

-- Methods: The study used data from a survey of 4,983 rural women of reproductive age (WRA) participating in a preconception micronutrient supplementation trial in Vietnam. Micronutrient intakes were assessed using a validated 107-item semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between socioeconomic status and micronutrient intakes.

-- Results: Starchy staples were the main source of iron and zinc (37% and 54%, respectively) with only a small proportion from meat (10% and 18%, respectively). The primary source of folate and vitamin A were vegetables; vitamin B12 came from meat and eggs. The proportion of the population with intakes below the estimated average requirement was 25% for iron, 16% for zinc, 54% for folate, 64% for vitamin B12 and 27% for vitamin A. Socioeconomic status was the main determinant of micronutrient intakes. WRA in the highest quintile consumed 26% more iron, 19% more zinc, 36% more folate, 82% more vitamin B12 and 47% more vitamin A compared to those in the lowest quintile. Women in the upper quintiles of SES were more likely to obtain nutrients from more nutritious and higher bioavailable foods than those in the lowest quintile.

-- Conclusions: Underprivileged women were at increased risk for insufficient micronutrient intakes due to poor diet quality. Targeted efforts to promote the consumption of local nutrient rich foods along with educational programs and social development are needed. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0089504.

The quality of life of leprosy patients' group in Vietnam.
The quality of life of leprosy patients' group in Vietnam.
H. Watanabe. Nihon Hansenbyo Gakkai Zasshi, 2013, volume 82, number 3, pp. 83-98.

Abstract: Vietnam has achieved WHO's leprosy elimination goal at a national level, but there are a lot ofex-leprosy patients who have severe physical disabilities in the leprosy treatment centers and resettlement villages. The purpose of this study is to analyze the quality of life (QOL) of ex-leprosy patients in Vietnam. The study was conducted in two leprosy treatment centers in Vietnam. The SF-36v2 QOL survey was used to evaluate the leprosy patients' health related conditions, and as a comparison group, SF-36v2 QOL survey was provided to a random group from the general population to measure the general groups' health related conditions. For those participants aged from 10 to 29 years old, the patients' group scored lower than the general group in each of the following categories; Role physical, Bodily pain, General health perceptions, Vitality, Social functioning, Role emotional. On the other hand, middle aged and elderly participants were found to show no significant difference between the patients' group and the general group. In comparing the two leprosy treatment centers, the score of Role physical and Role emotional were significantly higher in the leprosy treatment center where vocational training programs for leprosy patients are offered. From these results, the use of vocational training program is one of the effective methods for improving the QOL of the patients' group.

Service users’ attributes associated with the uptake of medical versus surgical abortion at public health facilities in Vie...
Service users’ attributes associated with the uptake of medical versus surgical abortion at public health facilities in Vietnam.
Thoai D. Ngo, Caroline Free and others. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2014.

Abstract: --

Objective: To investigate the attributes of service users associated with uptake of medical abortion (MA) versus manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) at public health facilities in Vietnam. –

Methods: Structured exit interviews were conducted among women who underwent termination at 62 public health facilities in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) between August and December 2011. Data on sociodemographic, abortion-related, and service-related factors were compared between women who underwent MVA versus MA. –

Results: Overall, 1233 women completed the study survey: 541 (43.9%) from Hanoi; 163 (13.2%) from Khanh Hoa; and 529 (42.9%) from HCMC. Almost one-quarter of women (23.1%) had chosen MA. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, women living in Khanh Hoa (odds ratio [OR], 13.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3–33.8) and HCMC (OR, 5.8; 95% CI, 2.1–15.9) were more likely to have undergone MA than women in Hanoi. Older women were less likely to have undergone MA (P < 0.05), and those who had previously heard of MA were twice as likely to have undergone MA (P = 0.020). –

Conclusion: Uptake of MA was lower than that of MVA and varied by province. Women in Vietnam will make their own judgment about which method to choose if they have prior knowledge of both. [sci-dir].

A Short Course in Advanced Medical Teaching for Talented Hanoi Medical University Graduates.
A Short Course in Advanced Medical Teaching for Talented Hanoi Medical University Graduates.
Owen F.Dent, Kerry J. Goulston and others. South East Asian Journal of Medical Education, 2013, volume 7, number 2.

Abstract: The Australian Vietnam Medical Foundation of the University of Sydney, in collaboration with Hanoi Medical University (HMU), conducted an Advanced Course in Medical Teaching for talented recent graduates who are expected to become leaders in clinical and academic medicine in Vietnam. The intention was to deliver a part-time course taught in English which would expand their medical horizons, increase their clinical skills and help them modernize their teaching within the HMU curriculum, particularly in specifying undergraduate learning objectives and developing clinical assessment. We report on the aims, content and conduct of the first instalment of the course in Hanoi in 2010-2011. [Dent-etal-2013.pdf]. Free full text http://seajme.md.chula.ac.th/articleVol7no2/CP1_OwenDent.pdf.

Socio-Ecological Risk Factors for Prime-Age Adult Death in Two Coastal Areas of Vietnam.
Socio-Ecological Risk Factors for Prime-Age Adult Death in Two Coastal Areas of Vietnam.
Deok Ryun Kim, Mohammad Ali and others. PLoS ONE, 2014, volume 9, number 2, p. e89780.

Abstract: --

Background: Hierarchical spatial models enable the geographic and ecological analysis of health data thereby providing useful information for designing effective health interventions. In this study, we used a Bayesian hierarchical spatial model to evaluate mortality data in Vietnam. The model enabled identification of socio-ecological risk factors and generation of risk maps to better understand the causes and geographic implications of prime-age (15 to less than 45 years) adult death. –

Methods and Findings: The study was conducted in two sites: Nha Trang and Hue in Vietnam. The study areas were split into 500×500 meter cells to define neighborhoods. We first extracted socio-demographic data from population databases of the two sites, and then aggregated the data by neighborhood. We used spatial hierarchical model that borrows strength from neighbors for evaluating risk factors and for creating spatially smoothed risk map after adjusting for neighborhood level covariates. The Markov chain Monte Carlo procedure was used to estimate the parameters. Male mortality was more than twice the female mortality. The rates also varied by age and sex. The most frequent cause of mortality was traffic accidents and drowning for men and traffic accidents and suicide for women. Lower education of household heads in the neighborhood was an important risk factor for increased mortality. The mortality was highly variable in space and the socio-ecological risk factors are sensitive to study site and sex.—

Conclusion: Our study suggests that lower education of the household head is an important predictor for prime age adult mortality. Variability in socio-ecological risk factors and in risk areas by sex make it challenging to design appropriate intervention strategies aimed at decreasing prime-age adult deaths in Vietnam. . Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0089780.

Impact of 2009 pandemic influenza among Vietnamese children based on a population-based prospective surveillance from 2007 t...
Impact of 2009 pandemic influenza among Vietnamese children based on a population-based prospective surveillance from 2007 to 2011.
Minh Nhat Le, Lay Myint Yoshida and others. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 2014.

Abstract:

Background Influenza virus is one of the major viral pathogens causing pediatric acute respiratory infection (ARI). The spread of pandemic influenza A (A(H1N1)pdm09) in 2009 around the globe had a huge impact on global health. Objective To investigate the impact of A(H1N1)pdm09 on pediatric ARI in Vietnam.

Study design An ongoing population-based prospective surveillance in central Vietnam was used. All children aged <15 years residing in Nha Trang city, enrolled to the ARI surveillance in Khanh Hoa General Hospital, from February 2007 through March 2011 were studied. Clinical data and nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected. Influenza A was detected and genotyped by multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays and sequencing.

Results Among enrolled 2736 hospitalized ARI cases, 354 (13%) were positive for influenza A. Genotyping results revealed that seasonal H3N2 and H1N1 (sea-H1N1) viruses were cocirculating before A(H1N1)pdm09 appeared in July 2009. The A(H1N1)pdm09 replaced the sea-H1N1 after the pandemic. The majority of influenza A cases (90%) were aged <5 years with incidence rate of 537 (387–775) per 100 000 population. Annual incidence rates of hospitalized influenza cases for pre-, initial and post-pandemic periods among children aged <5 year were 474, 452, and 387 per 100 000, respectively. Children with A(H1N1)pdm09 were elder, visited the hospital earlier, less frequently had severe signs, and were less frequently associated with viral coinfection compared with seasonal influenza cases.

Conclusions The A(H1N1)pdm09 did not increase the influenza annual hospitalization incidence or disease severity compared with seasonal influenza among pediatric ARI cases in central Vietnam. [Wiley]. Free full text http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/irv.12244.

Risk factors for repeat abortion and implications for addressing unintended pregnancy in Vietnam.
Risk factors for repeat abortion and implications for addressing unintended pregnancy in Vietnam.
Thoai D. Ngo, Sarah Keogh and others. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2014.

Abstract: --

Objective: To determine predictors of repeat abortion in 3 provinces in Vietnam. –

Methods: In a cross-sectional study between August and December 2011, women who underwent abortion were interviewed after the procedure in 62 public health facilities in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Information on sociodemographic factors, contraceptive and reproductive history and intentions, and opinions and experience of abortion services was collected. The primary outcome was repeat (≥ 2) abortions. –

Results: Overall, 1224 women were interviewed: 534 from Hanoi, 163 from Khanh Hoa, and 527 from HCMC. The mean age and parity of the respondents were 29 years and 1.8, respectively, and 79.6% were married. Approximately half of the respondents were not using contraception before pregnancy. The prevalence of repeat abortion was 31.7%. In multivariate models, significant predictors of repeat abortion included living in Hanoi, higher parity, age 35 years or older, and having 2 or more daughters (versus 1) or no sons (versus 1) after controlling for parity (all P < 0.05). –

Conclusion: Repeat abortion remains high in Vietnam, fueled partly by inadequate contraceptive use. Son preference seems to be an important predictor of repeat abortion. Strengthening post-abortion contraceptive counseling and promoting long-acting contraceptive methods are essential to reduce repeat abortion. –

Synopsis: Repeat abortion remains high in Vietnam, fueled partly by inadequate contraceptive use. Son preference seems to be an important predictor of repeat abortion. [sci-dir].


**Infrastructure and urban development  

Transport Modal Choice by Multinational Firms: Firm-level Evidence from Southeast Asia.
Transport Modal Choice by Multinational Firms: Firm-level Evidence from Southeast Asia.
Kazunobu Hayakawa, Kiyoyasu Tanaka and Yasushi Ueki. International Economic Journal, 2012, volume 27, number 4, pp. 609-623.

Abstract: We examine transport-mode decisions by multinational firms to shed light on the role of freight logistics in multinational activity. Using a firm-level survey in Southeast Asia, we show that foreign ownership has a significantly positive and quantitatively large impact on the likelihood that air/sea transportation is chosen relative to truck shipping. This result is robust to the shipping distance, cross-border freight, and transport infrastructure. Both foreign-owned exporters and importers also tend to use air/sea transportation. Thus, our analysis presents a new distinction between multinational and domestic firms in their decision over transport modes. [wiley].

In support of urban adaptation: a participatory assessment process for secondary cities in Vietnam and Bangladesh.
In support of urban adaptation: a participatory assessment process for secondary cities in Vietnam and Bangladesh.
Darryn McEvoy, Iftekhar Ahmed and others. Climate and Development, 2014, pp. 1-11.

Abstract: Vietnam and Bangladesh are countries already impacted by weather-related extreme events. Scientific modelling projections indicate that climate change, and changes to climate variability, will increase risks for both countries in the future. Targeting this challenging contemporary agenda, this paper reflects on the lessons learned from a collaborative research project, funded by the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research, which was carried out jointly in the Vietnamese city of Hu? and the Bangladeshi city of Satkhira. The focus on secondary cities was intentional as they face unique challenges ? a combination of rapid growth and development, adverse climate-related impacts, and in many cases less institutional adaptive capacity than their primary city counterparts. Whilst numerous assessment tool kits already exist, these have typically been developed for rural or natural resource contexts. Therefore, the objective of this action research activity was to develop a flexible suite of participatory assessment tools and methodologies that were refined specifically for the urban context; as well as being easy to use by local practitioners at the city and neighbourhood scales. This paper summarizes the research and stakeholder engagement activity that was carried out before presenting the main findings from each of the case study cities (detailing both climate-related risks and potential adaptation options). This analysis is further extended to include a reflective critique of the assessment process, a comparative analysis of the activity carried out in the two case studies, and the ?South?South? learning process that occurred between project partners. Key findings are then distilled to put forward recommendations in support of climate change assessment activity in secondary cities across the Asia-Pacific region. [T&F].


**Labor  

Analysing Better Work data from a gender perspective: a preliminary exploration of worker surveys with a focus on Vietnam.
Analysing Better Work data from a gender perspective: a preliminary exploration of worker surveys with a focus on Vietnam.
Marzia Fontana and Andrea Silberman, editor^editors, International Labour Office, Geneva, 2013.

Abstract: The literature on the feminisation of the labour force associated with labour-intensive manufacturing exports is characterised by lively discussions and differing viewpoints on its implications for women's empowerment. This paper contributes to the debate by presenting insights from an exploration of the Better Work baseline worker survey for Vietnam. Confirming patterns found in many other parts of the world, the analysis shows marked differences between male workers and female workers at the time that the garment factories joined the Better Work programme. Occupational segmentation by gender is pronounced. Women workers are less likely to be promoted and to receive training than men workers. And most of them report having less free time than male workers. An interesting finding is that differences between female workers with varying levels of education are also significant, in particular with regard to awareness and voice. The paper concludes by reflecting on implications for Better Work and suggesting areas for further research. Free full text http://betterwork.org/global/wp-content/uploads/DP13.pdf.

Firms' Performance, Employment and Poverty during the Economic Slowdown Period in Vietnam.
Firms' Performance, Employment and Poverty during the Economic Slowdown Period in Vietnam.
Le Chau, Nguyen Viet Cuong and others., 2013 Oct.

Abstract: Vietnam has achieved high economic growth and poverty reduction over the last two decades. However the country has experienced economic slowdown in recent years. GDP growth rate within the period of 2009-2012 was about 5 percent, which is considerably lower than the previous periods’ growth rate at 7 percent. This study shows that the economic slowdown does not have serious impacts on firms, laborers and households in the short-term. Although firms’ revenue, profit and size have declined, the number of firms still increases. Unemployment slightly decreased in the economic slowdown period. Average real wage per hour increased. Laborers are more likely to shift between different sectors and tend to move to the agricultural sector. Household average real income increased at the rate of 3.5 percent during 2010-2012, which is substantially lower than the rate of increase during the period 2006-2008 (at 17 percent). Poverty rate decreased from 14 percent in 2010 to 11.8 percent in 2012. Free full text http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/54140/1/MPRA_paper_54140.pdf.

Structural drivers of productivity and employment growth: a decomposition analysis for 81 countries.
Structural drivers of productivity and employment growth: a decomposition analysis for 81 countries.
Leanne Roncolato and David Kucera. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 2014, volume 38, number 2, pp. 399-424.

Abstract: The paper uses accounting methods to decompose aggregate labour productivity and employment growth into their sectoral components as well as into within-sector and employment reallocation effects for a sample of 81 developed and developing countries using data going back to the mid-1980s. Key findings are that aggregate labour productivity growth for developing countries taken together is driven as much by services as by industry, in spite of strong differences between countries, and that within-sector effects on aggregate labour productivity growth are more important than employment reallocation effects, a pattern that holds for all regions.


**Governance

Beyond Judicial Review: the Proposal of the Constitutional Academy. Beyond Judicial Review: the Proposal of the Constitutional Academy.
Ngoc Son Bui. The Chinese Journal of Comparative Law, 2014, volume 2, number 1, pp. 43-77.

Abstract: This article goes against the trend towards judicial constitutionalism among the Chinese and Vietnamese constitutionalists. It holds that judicial review is not the sine qua non of a true constitutionalist State. Neither is judicial review the best alternative for constitutional enforcement. It submits that a mechanism of constitutional enforcement should be developed under the grounds familiar with the local people. For the cases of China and Vietnam, Confucianism should be taken into account for this purpose. This article proposes the constitutional academy as a Confucian institution of constitutional enforcement. It is a mixed model of constitutional enforcement in which some Confucian constitutionalist ideas and institutions are integrated with some ideas and institutions of the Marshallian and Kelsenian models of constitutional review.


**Poverty    

Measuring Acute Poverty in the Developing World: Robustness and Scope of the Multidimensional Poverty Index.
Measuring Acute Poverty in the Developing World: Robustness and Scope of the Multidimensional Poverty Index.
Sabina Alkire and Maria Emma Santos. World Development, 2014, volume 59, pp. 251-274.

Abstract: This paper presents the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), a measure of acute poverty, understood as a person’s inability to meet minimum international standards in indicators related to the Millennium Development Goals and to core functionings. It constitutes the first implementation of the direct method to measure poverty for over 100 developing countries. After presenting the MPI, we analyze its scope and robustness, with a focus on the data challenges and methodological issues involved in constructing and estimating it. A range of robustness tests indicate that the MPI offers a reliable framework that can complement global income poverty estimates. [sci-dir].





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