2002年-世界发展银行全球_Ethnic_Minority_Development_in____________Vietnam___A_Socioeconomic_Perspective_32页_1mb

Summary of "Ethnic Minority Development in Vietnam: A Socioeconomic Perspective"

Core Content

This working paper by Bob Baulch, Truong Thi Kim Chuyen, Dominique Haughton, and Jonathan Haughton examines the socioeconomic disparities between and among ethnic groups in Vietnam, focusing on the living standards, education, and intermarriage patterns of ethnic minorities.

Main Findings

• Living Standards Disparities:

  • Kinh and Hoa (majority) households have significantly higher living standards than other ethnic minorities.
  • In 1993, 54% of minority households were below the poverty line, compared to 31% in 1998. However, the poverty headcount among minority groups remains high.
  • The Central Highland minorities (e.g., Hmong) have seen little improvement in living standards, with per capita expenditures stagnating at VND1.02 million in 1993 and only rising to VND1.09 million in 1998.
  • Kinh-Hoa households experienced an 18% increase in per capita expenditure between 1993 and 1998, while minority households saw only a 10% increase.
  • Minority households tend to be larger, have more young children, and are less likely to be urban or speak Vietnamese.

• Expenditure Regressions:

  • Even if minority households had the same endowments as Kinh-Hoa households, this would close no more than a third of the per capita expenditure gap.
  • This suggests that the disparities are due to both endowments and returns to those endowments.

• Education Disparities:

  • School enrollment rates are significantly lower among certain ethnic minority groups.
  • The net primary school enrollment rate (NER) for the Hmong is only 41.5%, while for the Kinh it is 93.4%.
  • The NER for lower secondary education is even lower, with the Hmong at 1.6% and the Xo-Dang at 7.1%.
  • There is a notable gender gap in lower secondary education, with Hmong and Xo-Dang girls having significantly lower NERs than boys.

• Assimilation Patterns:

  • Ethnic groups with higher school enrollment rates are more likely to assimilate with the Kinh majority.
  • The Hoa, Tay, Muong, Nung, and Thai groups are more assimilated than others, as evidenced by their higher school enrollment and intermarriage rates.
  • The Hmong and Dao groups are less assimilated, with lower school enrollment and less intermarriage with Kinh.

Key Information

• Data Sources:

  • 1998 Vietnam Living Standards Survey (VLSS98)
  • 1999 Vietnam Population and Housing Census
  • These data were used to analyze the socioeconomic conditions of different ethnic groups.

• Geographic Concentration:

  • Ethnic minorities are concentrated in remote and mountainous areas, particularly in the Central Highlands and Northern Uplands.
  • The Central Highland minorities have the lowest per capita expenditures and the highest poverty rates.

• Government Policy:

  • The authors suggest that current policies may not be effective in addressing the specific needs of different ethnic minority groups.
  • A more differentiated approach is needed to address the diverse experiences of ethnic minorities.

• Policy Implications:

  • The need for diverse policy interventions is emphasized, as different ethnic minority groups have experienced varying levels of socioeconomic development.
  • Special attention is required for the Central Highland minorities, who have not benefited from the economic growth of the 1990s.

Conclusion

The study highlights the need for more targeted and differentiated policies to address the diverse socioeconomic development experiences of ethnic minorities in Vietnam. While some groups have benefited from economic growth and assimilation, others, particularly the Central Highland minorities, have been left behind, indicating the importance of tailored interventions.