TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i

ABSTACT ii

LIST OF TABLES iii

LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS v

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Research topic 1

1.2 Research objectives, scope and focus of the study 2

1.3 Research questions 2

1.4 Methodology 2

1.5 Data 3

1.6 Structure of the thesis 3

CHAPTER II

METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK 4

I. Theoretical framework 4

II. Econometric specification of the welfare equation 6

III. Literature review 7

CHAPTER III

OVERVIEW OF LAND ALLOCATION IN VIETNAM’ AGRARIAN TRANSITION AND POVERTY 10

I. OVERVIEW OF LAND ALLOCATION IN VIETNAM’ AGRARIAN TRANSITION 10

1.1 Land reform in Vietnam 10

1.2 The process of land allocation 14

1.3 Land use in Vietnam 15

II. POVERTY IN VIETNAM 17

2.1. Overall Poverty in Vietnam 17

2.2 Dimensions of poverty in Vietnam 17

2.3 Summary of characteristics of poverty in Vietnam 20

CHAPTER IV

ESTIMATION RESULTS OF HOUSEHOLD WELFARE 22

I. DATA 22

II. DESCRIPTION OF VARIABLES 23

1. Dependent variable 23

2. Explanatory variables 23

III.ESTIMATION RESULTS: The household welfare generating potential of land 25

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 29

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS 30

I. CONCLUSION 30

II. POLICY IMPLICATIONS 30

III. SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDY 31

REFERENCES 32

APPENDICES 35