Globalisation in Viet Nam: An Opportunity for Social Mobility?

Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 21-33, 2015, DOI: 10.1002/app5.73

13 Pages Posted: 5 Feb 2015

See all articles by Ian Brand-Weiner

Ian Brand-Weiner

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)

Francesca Francavilla

University of Florence

Mattia Olivari

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)

Date Written: January 28, 2015

Abstract

Viet Nam's Doi Moi reforms opened the economy to the world and set structural transformations and society in motion. In this context, a relevant question is whether structural transformation has created new employment opportunities and facilitated upwards social mobility. Social mobility, captured by labour and income mobility, is a useful concept to measure the extent to which opportunities exist in a society. Using panel data, this article finds that Viet Nam's labour market shows some flexibility, but does not follow a clear trend. An expected predominance of the industrial and service sectors and wage employment could not be found. The income distribution is open, and four fifths of the households change their position. In essence, income mobility continues to follow traditional patterns: agriculture is still key to advance households' well-being, especially in times of uncertainty. The structural changes are still not an important driving force for income mobility.

Keywords: income mobility; labour mobility; Viet Nam; economic transformation; globalisation

JEL Classification: E24; I31; J60; J62

Suggested Citation

Brand-Weiner, Ian and Francavilla, Francesca and Olivari, Mattia, Globalisation in Viet Nam: An Opportunity for Social Mobility? (January 28, 2015). Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 21-33, 2015, DOI: 10.1002/app5.73, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2560069

Ian Brand-Weiner (Contact Author)

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) ( email )

2 rue Andre Pascal
Paris Cedex 16, 75775
France

Francesca Francavilla

University of Florence ( email )

Piazza di San Marco, 4
Florence, 50121
Italy

Mattia Olivari

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) ( email )

2 rue Andre Pascal
Paris Cedex 16, 75775
France

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