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Exploring income inequality in rural, coastal Viet Nam

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  • W. Neil Adger

Abstract

Income inequality has been rising in parallel with the economic liberalisation process in the former centrally planned economies. The opportunities for non-agricultural income associated with the market liberalisation process in former centrally planned economies would seem to be important in determining inequality within the rural sector. This article reviews the trends in inequality in Viet Nam examining differential trends and hypothesised causes. Inequality is important because of its relationship to other factors in the evolution of the agricultural economy such as the incidence of poverty and the sustainability of emerging income sources. This article analyses income inequality based on data collected by the author in two Districts in coastal northern Viet Nam. The results demonstrate that non-agricultural income sources, specifically aquaculture and wage and remittance, contribute more to present inequality than any other income source. Simulation shows that the emergence of aquaculture since the late 1980s has been driving the inequality increase in that period. Hence the analysis provides evidence that non-agricultural income increases inequality even without asset concentration. This concentration of income is important in the north Viet Nam context since it is concurrent with present-day land allocation and will affect the structure of future income growth.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Neil Adger, 1999. "Exploring income inequality in rural, coastal Viet Nam," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(5), pages 96-119.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:35:y:1999:i:5:p:96-119
    DOI: 10.1080/00220389908422593
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Atkinson,Anthony Barnes & Micklewright,John, 1992. "Economic Transformation in Eastern Europe and the Distribution of Income," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521433297.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicholas Awuse & Patrick Tandoh-Offin, 2014. "Empirical Analysis of Internal Migration Influence on Development in Ghana From 1990 to 2012," Journal of Social Science Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 1(2), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Patricia Romero-Lankao & Daniel M. Gnatz & Joshua B. Sperling, 2016. "Examining urban inequality and vulnerability to enhance resilience: insights from Mumbai, India," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 351-365, December.
    3. Ali, Amjad, 2016. "Issue of Income Inequality under the perceptive of Macroeconomic Instability: An Empirical Analysis of Pakistan," MPRA Paper 74963, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Do, Huu-Luat & Dang Thuy, Truong, 2022. "Productivity response and production risk: A study of mangrove forest effects in aquaculture in the Mekong River Delta," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    5. Liu, Amy Y.C., 2008. "Changes in urban inequality in Vietnam: 1992-1998," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 410-425, December.
    6. Cárdenas-Retamal, Roberto & Dresdner-Cid, Jorge & Ceballos-Concha, Adams, 2021. "Impact assessment of salmon farming on income distribution in remote coastal areas: The Chilean case," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    7. Hoang Van Long, 2013. "Unequal Regional Development in Rural Vietnam: Sources of Spatial Disparities and Policy Considerations," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 5(6), pages 325-335.
    8. Muhammad Shahbaz & Ijaz Rehman & Nurul Mahdzan, 2014. "Linkages between income inequality, international remittances and economic growth in Pakistan," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 1511-1535, May.
    9. Julie A. Silva, 2013. "Rural Income Inequality in Mozambique: National Dynamics and Local Experiences?," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 43(1), pages 23-50, Summer.
    10. Dang, Thang, 2015. "Intergenerational mobility of earnings and income among sons and daughters in Vietnam," MPRA Paper 75357, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Trung Thanh, Hoang & Tschakert, Petra & Hipsey, Matthew R., 2021. "Moving up or going under? Differential livelihood trajectories in coastal communities in Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    12. Gabriel Gonzalez-Konig & Quentin Wodon, 2005. "Remittances and Inequality," Department of Economics and Finance Working Papers EC200506, Universidad de Guanajuato, Department of Economics and Finance.
    13. Patricia Romero-Lankao & Daniel M. Gnatz & Olga Wilhelmi & Mary Hayden, 2016. "Urban Sustainability and Resilience: From Theory to Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-19, November.
    14. Kimhi, Ayal, 2009. "Land Reform and Farm-Household Income Inequality: The Case of Georgia," Discussion Papers 54159, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Agricultural Economics and Management.
    15. Tran, Tuyen & Vu, Huong, 2013. "Farmland loss, nonfarm diversification and inequality: A micro-econometric analysis of household surveys in Vietnam," MPRA Paper 47596, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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