About VARHS 2018

The Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey (VARHS) 2018 is a nationally representative survey that covers various aspects of rural livelihoods, such as land, labor, income, expenditure, credit, assets, shocks, and coping strategies. The survey is conducted by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) and the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs (ILSSA) in collaboration with the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER). The survey has been conducted every two years since 2002, covering 12 provinces across the country. The VARHS 2018 data can be used for various research topics related to rural development, poverty reduction, and economic transformation in Vietnam.

Research ideas using VARHS 2018

Some examples of research topics using this dataset are:

• The impact of social capital on household vulnerability. This topic examines how different forms and dimensions of social capital affect the ability of rural households to cope with shocks, such as natural disasters, health problems, or crop failures. The topic also explores how social capital varies across regions, ethnic groups, and gender.
• The determinants and consequences of land market participation. This topic investigates the factors that influence rural households' decisions to buy, sell, rent, or mortgage land, and how these decisions affect their income, productivity, and welfare. The topic also analyzes the effects of land policies and institutions on land market outcomes and efficiency.
• The dynamics of household income diversification. This topic studies how rural households diversify their income sources over time, and what are the drivers and barriers of income diversification. The topic also assesses the implications of income diversification for household welfare, inequality, and resilience.
• The role of credit markets in rural development. This topic analyzes how access to formal and informal credit sources affects household investment decisions, consumption smoothing, and poverty reduction.
• Tenurial security and agricultural investment: Evidence from Vietnam. This study examines how land rights affect farmers' decisions to invest in land improvement and adopt new technologies in Vietnam. It uses a panel data analysis of VARHS 2018 and previous rounds to estimate the impact of land titling and perceived tenure security on different types of investment. The results show that land titling has a positive and significant effect on land improvement investment, but not on technology adoption. Perceived tenure security also matters for investment decisions, especially for female-headed households and ethnic minorities.
• Gender gaps in landownership across and within households in Vietnam. This study investigates the gender gaps in landownership in Vietnam, both across and within households. It uses VARHS 2018 data to measure the extent and determinants of female landownership at the individual and household levels. The results show that women own less land than men across households, but there is considerable variation within households. Female landownership is influenced by individual characteristics, household composition, regional factors, and land policy interventions.
• Climate change adaptation strategies and food security in rural Vietnam. This study explores how rural households in Vietnam cope with climate change shocks and stresses, and how their adaptation strategies affect their food security outcomes. It uses VARHS 2018 data to identify the types and frequency of climate shocks and stresses experienced by households, the coping and adaptation strategies they employ, and the impact of these strategies on their food consumption and dietary diversity. The results show that climate shocks and stresses are prevalent and have negative effects on food security. Households use various coping and adaptation strategies, such as income diversification, migration, borrowing, and social networks, but these strategies have different implications for food security depending on the type and severity of the shock or stress.