Thanh-Huyen Do | The University of Auckland (original) (raw)
Papers by Thanh-Huyen Do
The series aims to analyse trends in Viet Nam regarding the implementation processes and options ... more The series aims to analyse trends in Viet Nam regarding the implementation processes and options in specific public administration reform areas. In order to confront the social, economic, political and environmental challenges facing Viet Nam, policymakers need to adopt evidence-based decisionmaking. These policy papers aim to contribute to current policy debate by providing discussion inputs on policy reformsthereby helping to improve Viet Nam's development efforts. Three principles guide the production of the policy discussion papers: (i) evidence-based research, (ii) academic rigour and independence of analysis, and (iii) social legitimacy and a participatory process. This involves a substantive research approach with a rigorous and systematic identification of policy options on key public administration reform and anti-corruption issues.
International Public Management Journal, 2019
Do Good Governance and Public Administration Improve Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction? The C... more Do Good Governance and Public Administration Improve Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction? The Case of Vietnam
Cuong Viet Nguyen, Long Thanh Giang, Anh Ngoc Tran & Huyen Thanh Do
ABSTRACT: In this study, we examine how governance and public administration quality can affect per capita income, income inequality, and poverty using provinciallevel data in Vietnam. Governance and public administration quality are measured by the Vietnam Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) surveys, which collect data on citizens’ experiences with and perception of provincial performance in governance and public. Using province fixed-effect regressions, we find a positive and nonlinear association between governance and public administration and per capita income. Better performance of governance and public administration also appears to improve income distribution and reduces poverty. The association between governance quality and poverty severity is larger than the association between governance quality and poverty headcount. This finding implies that, within a province, better governance and public administration are most beneficial for the poorest of the poor.
To cite this article: Cuong Viet Nguyen, Long Thanh Giang, Anh Ngoc Tran & Huyen Thanh Do (2019): Do Good Governance and Public Administration Improve Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction? The Case of Vietnam, International Public Management Journal, DOI: 10.1080/10967494.2019.1592793 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2019.1592793
Vietnam Law and Legal Forum , 2019
By Edmund J. Malesky, Dang Hoang Giang, Paul J. Schuler and Do Thanh Huyen This article present... more By Edmund J. Malesky, Dang Hoang Giang, Paul J. Schuler and Do Thanh Huyen
This article presents a snapshot of key findings from the 2018 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) research project. The 2018 PAPI Report provides data and analysis about the country’s performance in governance and public administration, as drawn from citizens’ direct interactions and experiences with local governments at different levels in 2018. It captures experiences and perceptions related to the performance of local governments in governance and public administration based on a survey of 14,304 citizens with different demographic characteristics, randomly selected from all 63 provinces and centrally run cities in Viet Nam.
Vietnam Law and Legal Forum, 2018
This article presents a snapshot of key findings from the 2017 Vietnam Provincial Governance and ... more This article presents a snapshot of key findings from the 2017 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) research project.[1] The 2017 PAPI Report provides data and analysis about the country’s performance in governance and public administration, as drawn from citizens’ direct interactions and experiences with local governments at different levels in 2017. It captures experiences and perceptions related to the performance of local governments in governance and public administration based on a survey of 14,097 citizens with different demographic characteristics, randomly selected from all 63 provinces and centrally run cities.
By Dang Hoang Giang, Edmund J. Malesky, Paul J. Schuler and Do Thanh Huyen[2]
===
[1] PAPI is joint empirical policy research by CECODES, the Center for Research and Training of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF-CRT), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). For more information about PAPI, visit www.papi.org.vn.
[2] Dr Dang Hoang Giang, Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Community Support and Development Studies (CECODES); Dr Edmund J. Malesky, Professor of Political Economy from Duke University (UNDP international consultant on governance measurement); Dr Paul Schuler, Assistant Professor from the University of Arizona (UNDP international consultant on research quality control); and Ms. Do Thanh Huyen, Governance Policy Analyst and PAPI Program Manager from UNDP Vietnam.
By Nguyen Van Thang, Bach Ngoc Thang and Do Thanh Huyen[1] Introduction Experiences from develo... more By Nguyen Van Thang, Bach Ngoc Thang and Do Thanh Huyen[1]
Introduction
Experiences from developed countries have shown that transparency, accountability and participation significantly reduce corruption, which in turn helps increase access to and improve the quality of public services. When it comes to developing countries, the links between governance, corruption and public service quality are under debate due to the prevalence of corrupt practices in public services and challenges in combating corruption in the public sector.
In Vietnam, corruption has been formally and openly recognized by top leaders as a key obstacle for the country to prosper. However, it is also commonly but arguably perceived that, under a complex public sector and malfunctioning formal institutions like those in Vietnam, corruption may help “greasing the wheels”, thus promoting efficiency of public services, because it creates incentives for public employees to earn their living from serving the state and its people. Efforts to promote transparency, accountability and participation to reduce corruption and improve public service quality in Vietnam have been embarked on over the past two decades as the national agenda on public administration reforms has been implemented. However, there is slow pace of progress in anti-corruption in public service delivery in Vietnam (see Malesky, Edmund, 2015, and CECODES, VFF-CRT & UNDP, 2015, for instance)[2].
This article looks into how corruption affects public service delivery, and whether or not good governance practices like enhanced transparency, accountability and citizen participation can help reduce corruption in Vietnam.[3] It addresses two specific questions: (i) to what extent does corruption affect quality of healthcare and primary education?, and (ii) how do citizen participation, transparency and accountability help reduce corruption? Survey data from the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) from 2011 to 2014 were used to answer the questions. Findings and policy implications in this article are expected to provide relevant authorities with information about and evidence of how good governance practices can help reduce corruption in public services and improve service quality. It is of particular relevance as Vietnam is revisiting anti-corruption strategies and measures in 2016, amidst a new office term for the Vietnam Communist Party, the Government of Vietnam and the National Assembly from 2016-2021.
By Jairo Acuña-Alfaro, Đặng Ngọc Dinh, Đặng Hoàng Giang, Edmund J. Malesky, Paul Schuler and Đỗ T... more By Jairo Acuña-Alfaro, Đặng Ngọc Dinh, Đặng Hoàng Giang, Edmund J. Malesky, Paul Schuler and Đỗ Thanh Huyền[1]
For more information about the PAPI initiative, visit www.papi.vn.
Jairo Acuña-Alfaro and Đỗ Thanh Huyền[1] [English Version] Accountability and oversight a... more Jairo Acuña-Alfaro and Đỗ Thanh Huyền[1]
[English Version]
Accountability and oversight are evolving governance processes, that when properly enabled, allow a more efficient allocation of public resources. Local governments are accountable when mechanisms are put in place so local public officials are made responsible for their decisions and actions while performing official duties, and also answerable to the laws. Local governments are accountable when officials are open to oversight and inspection by constituents and superior State authorities. Both governance processes of accountability and oversight coexist together and are united by transparency and access to information.
Chapter 9 of the 2013 Constitution establishes the organization and primary roles and responsibilities of local governments in Viet Nam. This chapter mainly deals with the formal administrative, institutional and organizational aspects of local governments. While not directly addressing accountability and oversight, it enables for the supervision of superior state organs or top-down accountability (article 112.1) and indirect bottom-up oversight via People’s Councils (article 115.2) and other organizations (article 116). That is yet to take into account the fact that government and state agencies are under the oversight of citizens via their representative body, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (article 9, chapter 1).
The current discussion on the possible formulation of the Law on the Organization of Local Governments[2] provides a timely opportunity to move beyond the formal aspects of administrative and organizational structures and focus on the next generation of local governance reforms in Viet Nam. This requires the discussion of what role local governments play in accountability and oversight. By sequence, it is high time to discuss mechanism of and approaches to improving the accountability and oversight roles of local governments.
The aforementioned draft law has a comprehensive chapter about transparency and participatory roles of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations and citizens in organization and performance of local governments. This is indeed a good starting point. Accountability and oversight are founded on transparency and the opportunity it opens up to access information. However, inasmuch detail the draft law has regarding transparency; many of these provisions are already embedded in different regulations, including for instance the Grassroots Democracy Ordinance and the Law on Anti-Corruption to mention only two. The missing element seems to be on how to make the best use of the proposed provisions of transparency.
Accountability mechanisms (both horizontal and vertical) have not yet been provided for in the current draft Law (Draft No. 7). In the whole draft, the term “giải trình” (accountability) is tossed once in Article 69, and it is about internal accountability by People’s Committees before People’s Councils. Meanwhile, Decree No 90/2013/ND-CP regulates accountability mechanisms for state agencies when performing their mandates and functions, together with external oversight tools for citizens and businesses to call local governments into account following Article 9 of the 2013 Constitution. If addressed properly, the law could provide the opportunity to significantly improve implementation of other laws at the central and local levels on one hand and promote internal and external accountability by local governments.
In fact, as findings from the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) show, transparency and accountability remain weak across 63 provinces given the effectiveness of the Ordinance on Grassroots Democracy since 2007, amidst many other legislations requiring for these principles to be ensured and enforced. Take PAPI findings regarding levels of transparency in budget and expenditures at the grassroots government level (including communes, wards and townlets). Figure 1 shows that the average local government scores on transparency of commune budget and expenditure for 2013 is around 1.86, a slight rise from 1.79 in 2011. Despite the increase in overall provincial scores, only one third of citizens said their communes publicly disclose information about budget and expenditure. Of those, only 38% have read the statements, and among these around two thirds believed the provided information is factually inaccurate. This basically suggests that only 8 in 100 citizens know, read and believe in the accuracy of these local budgets...
![Research paper thumbnail of DOTHANHHUYEN Water Governance - Book Chapter [Draft under review for publication]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/32744632/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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This thesis explores the contexts and effects of water governance in transitional Vietnam. There,... more This thesis explores the contexts and effects of water governance in transitional Vietnam. There, as in many other developing country contexts, commodification of water – a process of converting water or water services formerly subject to non-market social rules into one that is primarily subject to market rules – is being promoted with enthusiasm to address local water problems. This has given rise to a number of local market and market-social hybrid mechanisms to address water governance. Water markets, particularly a market for water licences and permits, are proposed at the policy level as a means to achieve efficient use and equitable allocation of water. In a country like Vietnam, which has an extensive history of elaborate management of water especially for agriculture, such developments are radical, and potentially very far reaching.
The proposed market solutions arguably fit alongside the fundamental reforms to the Vietnamese economy, which have resulted in an average growth of 7.5 percent per annum over the last decade. Like the economic reforms, the water reforms are not of local provenance. Rather, they reflect international orthodoxies, deployed in this case in accordance with such instruments as the Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development – an international protocol on management and development of water resources signed in Dublin in January 1992, and endorsed by world leaders at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in June of that year.
For all such orthodoxies to be effective, in Vietnam as elsewhere, the water reforms must be implemented in practical ways alongside existing orthodox and unorthodox modes of governance, which are both layered and complex. By exploring the juncture and/or disjuncture between international, mainstream and everyday, local modes of water governance, this paper shows how and why water markets, especially the water use rights market, may or may not function well in the polycentric complexities of Vietnam. It also sheds light on the question of whether or not the markets are likely to achieve their targeted goals and generate expected outcomes.
Talks by Thanh-Huyen Do
Conference Presentations by Thanh-Huyen Do
Presentation at the Anti-corruption and Transparency Working Group Meeting, APEC Workshop on Pro... more Presentation at the Anti-corruption and Transparency Working Group Meeting, APEC Workshop on Promoting Social Engagement in Fighting Corruption, 18 February 2017, Nha Trang, Viet Nam. URL: https://www.apec2017.vn/ap17-c/gallery/anti-corruption-and-transparency-working-group-actwg-som-i
Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or the United Nations Development Programme.
The series aims to analyse trends in Viet Nam regarding the implementation processes and options ... more The series aims to analyse trends in Viet Nam regarding the implementation processes and options in specific public administration reform areas. In order to confront the social, economic, political and environmental challenges facing Viet Nam, policymakers need to adopt evidence-based decisionmaking. These policy papers aim to contribute to current policy debate by providing discussion inputs on policy reformsthereby helping to improve Viet Nam's development efforts. Three principles guide the production of the policy discussion papers: (i) evidence-based research, (ii) academic rigour and independence of analysis, and (iii) social legitimacy and a participatory process. This involves a substantive research approach with a rigorous and systematic identification of policy options on key public administration reform and anti-corruption issues.
International Public Management Journal, 2019
Do Good Governance and Public Administration Improve Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction? The C... more Do Good Governance and Public Administration Improve Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction? The Case of Vietnam
Cuong Viet Nguyen, Long Thanh Giang, Anh Ngoc Tran & Huyen Thanh Do
ABSTRACT: In this study, we examine how governance and public administration quality can affect per capita income, income inequality, and poverty using provinciallevel data in Vietnam. Governance and public administration quality are measured by the Vietnam Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) surveys, which collect data on citizens’ experiences with and perception of provincial performance in governance and public. Using province fixed-effect regressions, we find a positive and nonlinear association between governance and public administration and per capita income. Better performance of governance and public administration also appears to improve income distribution and reduces poverty. The association between governance quality and poverty severity is larger than the association between governance quality and poverty headcount. This finding implies that, within a province, better governance and public administration are most beneficial for the poorest of the poor.
To cite this article: Cuong Viet Nguyen, Long Thanh Giang, Anh Ngoc Tran & Huyen Thanh Do (2019): Do Good Governance and Public Administration Improve Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction? The Case of Vietnam, International Public Management Journal, DOI: 10.1080/10967494.2019.1592793 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2019.1592793
Vietnam Law and Legal Forum , 2019
By Edmund J. Malesky, Dang Hoang Giang, Paul J. Schuler and Do Thanh Huyen This article present... more By Edmund J. Malesky, Dang Hoang Giang, Paul J. Schuler and Do Thanh Huyen
This article presents a snapshot of key findings from the 2018 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) research project. The 2018 PAPI Report provides data and analysis about the country’s performance in governance and public administration, as drawn from citizens’ direct interactions and experiences with local governments at different levels in 2018. It captures experiences and perceptions related to the performance of local governments in governance and public administration based on a survey of 14,304 citizens with different demographic characteristics, randomly selected from all 63 provinces and centrally run cities in Viet Nam.
Vietnam Law and Legal Forum, 2018
This article presents a snapshot of key findings from the 2017 Vietnam Provincial Governance and ... more This article presents a snapshot of key findings from the 2017 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) research project.[1] The 2017 PAPI Report provides data and analysis about the country’s performance in governance and public administration, as drawn from citizens’ direct interactions and experiences with local governments at different levels in 2017. It captures experiences and perceptions related to the performance of local governments in governance and public administration based on a survey of 14,097 citizens with different demographic characteristics, randomly selected from all 63 provinces and centrally run cities.
By Dang Hoang Giang, Edmund J. Malesky, Paul J. Schuler and Do Thanh Huyen[2]
===
[1] PAPI is joint empirical policy research by CECODES, the Center for Research and Training of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF-CRT), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). For more information about PAPI, visit www.papi.org.vn.
[2] Dr Dang Hoang Giang, Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Community Support and Development Studies (CECODES); Dr Edmund J. Malesky, Professor of Political Economy from Duke University (UNDP international consultant on governance measurement); Dr Paul Schuler, Assistant Professor from the University of Arizona (UNDP international consultant on research quality control); and Ms. Do Thanh Huyen, Governance Policy Analyst and PAPI Program Manager from UNDP Vietnam.
By Nguyen Van Thang, Bach Ngoc Thang and Do Thanh Huyen[1] Introduction Experiences from develo... more By Nguyen Van Thang, Bach Ngoc Thang and Do Thanh Huyen[1]
Introduction
Experiences from developed countries have shown that transparency, accountability and participation significantly reduce corruption, which in turn helps increase access to and improve the quality of public services. When it comes to developing countries, the links between governance, corruption and public service quality are under debate due to the prevalence of corrupt practices in public services and challenges in combating corruption in the public sector.
In Vietnam, corruption has been formally and openly recognized by top leaders as a key obstacle for the country to prosper. However, it is also commonly but arguably perceived that, under a complex public sector and malfunctioning formal institutions like those in Vietnam, corruption may help “greasing the wheels”, thus promoting efficiency of public services, because it creates incentives for public employees to earn their living from serving the state and its people. Efforts to promote transparency, accountability and participation to reduce corruption and improve public service quality in Vietnam have been embarked on over the past two decades as the national agenda on public administration reforms has been implemented. However, there is slow pace of progress in anti-corruption in public service delivery in Vietnam (see Malesky, Edmund, 2015, and CECODES, VFF-CRT & UNDP, 2015, for instance)[2].
This article looks into how corruption affects public service delivery, and whether or not good governance practices like enhanced transparency, accountability and citizen participation can help reduce corruption in Vietnam.[3] It addresses two specific questions: (i) to what extent does corruption affect quality of healthcare and primary education?, and (ii) how do citizen participation, transparency and accountability help reduce corruption? Survey data from the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) from 2011 to 2014 were used to answer the questions. Findings and policy implications in this article are expected to provide relevant authorities with information about and evidence of how good governance practices can help reduce corruption in public services and improve service quality. It is of particular relevance as Vietnam is revisiting anti-corruption strategies and measures in 2016, amidst a new office term for the Vietnam Communist Party, the Government of Vietnam and the National Assembly from 2016-2021.
By Jairo Acuña-Alfaro, Đặng Ngọc Dinh, Đặng Hoàng Giang, Edmund J. Malesky, Paul Schuler and Đỗ T... more By Jairo Acuña-Alfaro, Đặng Ngọc Dinh, Đặng Hoàng Giang, Edmund J. Malesky, Paul Schuler and Đỗ Thanh Huyền[1]
For more information about the PAPI initiative, visit www.papi.vn.
Jairo Acuña-Alfaro and Đỗ Thanh Huyền[1] [English Version] Accountability and oversight a... more Jairo Acuña-Alfaro and Đỗ Thanh Huyền[1]
[English Version]
Accountability and oversight are evolving governance processes, that when properly enabled, allow a more efficient allocation of public resources. Local governments are accountable when mechanisms are put in place so local public officials are made responsible for their decisions and actions while performing official duties, and also answerable to the laws. Local governments are accountable when officials are open to oversight and inspection by constituents and superior State authorities. Both governance processes of accountability and oversight coexist together and are united by transparency and access to information.
Chapter 9 of the 2013 Constitution establishes the organization and primary roles and responsibilities of local governments in Viet Nam. This chapter mainly deals with the formal administrative, institutional and organizational aspects of local governments. While not directly addressing accountability and oversight, it enables for the supervision of superior state organs or top-down accountability (article 112.1) and indirect bottom-up oversight via People’s Councils (article 115.2) and other organizations (article 116). That is yet to take into account the fact that government and state agencies are under the oversight of citizens via their representative body, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (article 9, chapter 1).
The current discussion on the possible formulation of the Law on the Organization of Local Governments[2] provides a timely opportunity to move beyond the formal aspects of administrative and organizational structures and focus on the next generation of local governance reforms in Viet Nam. This requires the discussion of what role local governments play in accountability and oversight. By sequence, it is high time to discuss mechanism of and approaches to improving the accountability and oversight roles of local governments.
The aforementioned draft law has a comprehensive chapter about transparency and participatory roles of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations and citizens in organization and performance of local governments. This is indeed a good starting point. Accountability and oversight are founded on transparency and the opportunity it opens up to access information. However, inasmuch detail the draft law has regarding transparency; many of these provisions are already embedded in different regulations, including for instance the Grassroots Democracy Ordinance and the Law on Anti-Corruption to mention only two. The missing element seems to be on how to make the best use of the proposed provisions of transparency.
Accountability mechanisms (both horizontal and vertical) have not yet been provided for in the current draft Law (Draft No. 7). In the whole draft, the term “giải trình” (accountability) is tossed once in Article 69, and it is about internal accountability by People’s Committees before People’s Councils. Meanwhile, Decree No 90/2013/ND-CP regulates accountability mechanisms for state agencies when performing their mandates and functions, together with external oversight tools for citizens and businesses to call local governments into account following Article 9 of the 2013 Constitution. If addressed properly, the law could provide the opportunity to significantly improve implementation of other laws at the central and local levels on one hand and promote internal and external accountability by local governments.
In fact, as findings from the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) show, transparency and accountability remain weak across 63 provinces given the effectiveness of the Ordinance on Grassroots Democracy since 2007, amidst many other legislations requiring for these principles to be ensured and enforced. Take PAPI findings regarding levels of transparency in budget and expenditures at the grassroots government level (including communes, wards and townlets). Figure 1 shows that the average local government scores on transparency of commune budget and expenditure for 2013 is around 1.86, a slight rise from 1.79 in 2011. Despite the increase in overall provincial scores, only one third of citizens said their communes publicly disclose information about budget and expenditure. Of those, only 38% have read the statements, and among these around two thirds believed the provided information is factually inaccurate. This basically suggests that only 8 in 100 citizens know, read and believe in the accuracy of these local budgets...
This thesis explores the contexts and effects of water governance in transitional Vietnam. There,... more This thesis explores the contexts and effects of water governance in transitional Vietnam. There, as in many other developing country contexts, commodification of water – a process of converting water or water services formerly subject to non-market social rules into one that is primarily subject to market rules – is being promoted with enthusiasm to address local water problems. This has given rise to a number of local market and market-social hybrid mechanisms to address water governance. Water markets, particularly a market for water licences and permits, are proposed at the policy level as a means to achieve efficient use and equitable allocation of water. In a country like Vietnam, which has an extensive history of elaborate management of water especially for agriculture, such developments are radical, and potentially very far reaching.
The proposed market solutions arguably fit alongside the fundamental reforms to the Vietnamese economy, which have resulted in an average growth of 7.5 percent per annum over the last decade. Like the economic reforms, the water reforms are not of local provenance. Rather, they reflect international orthodoxies, deployed in this case in accordance with such instruments as the Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development – an international protocol on management and development of water resources signed in Dublin in January 1992, and endorsed by world leaders at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in June of that year.
For all such orthodoxies to be effective, in Vietnam as elsewhere, the water reforms must be implemented in practical ways alongside existing orthodox and unorthodox modes of governance, which are both layered and complex. By exploring the juncture and/or disjuncture between international, mainstream and everyday, local modes of water governance, this paper shows how and why water markets, especially the water use rights market, may or may not function well in the polycentric complexities of Vietnam. It also sheds light on the question of whether or not the markets are likely to achieve their targeted goals and generate expected outcomes.
Presentation at the Anti-corruption and Transparency Working Group Meeting, APEC Workshop on Pro... more Presentation at the Anti-corruption and Transparency Working Group Meeting, APEC Workshop on Promoting Social Engagement in Fighting Corruption, 18 February 2017, Nha Trang, Viet Nam. URL: https://www.apec2017.vn/ap17-c/gallery/anti-corruption-and-transparency-working-group-actwg-som-i
Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or the United Nations Development Programme.