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Bigger Provinces, Hidden Gaps: A View of Viet Nam's 63-to-34 Reform beyond the Averages

Author

Listed:
  • Dang, Hai-Anh H.
  • Do, Minh N. N.
  • Le, Duy-Anh

Abstract

Viet Nam's timely reduction of 63 province-level units to 34 renders its number of provinces typical of countries of its size. International evidence, however, shows that savings and development gains are neither automatic nor evenly shared. Reclassifying 2002-2020 household data onto the new map leaves national measures of poverty and inequality unchanged but moves part of measured inequality from between provinces to within them. Administrative poverty rates also reveal large differences among areas now sharing one provincial budget. This essay offers tentative policy suggestions such as keeping poorer places visible, allocating resources according to need, protecting access to benefits and public services, and connecting lagging areas to jobs and markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Dang, Hai-Anh H. & Do, Minh N. N. & Le, Duy-Anh, 2026. "Bigger Provinces, Hidden Gaps: A View of Viet Nam's 63-to-34 Reform beyond the Averages," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1812, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:glodps:1812
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/343429/1/GLO-DP-1812.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics
    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • R5 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis

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