Using a system generalized method of moments model, the present paper investigates the impacts of trade liberalization on employment in Vietnam from 1999 to 2004. The results show that the increase in industrial output increased labor demand, whereas the increasing wage rate led to a decline in the employment level. The impact of export expansion on derived labor demand was positive and statistically significant, indicating that the higher level of exports than previously presented employment opportunities for the country's large labor surplus. As far as imports are concerned, empirical observations indicate that imports did not necessarily negatively impact Vietnam's employment level.

This study aims at determining if organic tea farming results in higher net income than conventional tea farming in the mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam. Our sample includes 226 traditional and 319 organic tea-producing households in the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, and Lai Chau. Using a propensity score matching approach, the study finds that the adoption of organic tea production had a positive impact on households’ farm income in the study area. Using different matching algorithms, organic tea adopters earned higher income than did non-adopters, from 1038.8 to 1059.0 thousand Vietnamese Dong (VND) per hectare of cultivation plot. To increase conversion to organic tea farming amongst smallholder farmers, the government and other stakeholders should aim to provide better extension services, which incorporate relevant training to farmers and better access to information on organic tea production, as well as encouraging the commercialization of organic fertilizers. Simultaneously, the Vietnamese government should introduce mechanisms to coordinate production activities and deliver tea products to processing and/or marketing facilities.

This paper investigates the impacts of trade liberalisation on poverty reduction in Vietnam during the period of economic reform. Using a combined approach dealing with four transmitting channels from trade to poverty, the major findings are summarised as follows. First, Vietnam's trade liberalisation has fostered economic growth, which has helped to raise per capita GDP and reduce poverty. Second, trade liberalisation has directly benefited the poor through creating pro-poor employment and raising wages. Third, another impact of trade liberalisation on poverty is income and substitution effects associated with reduced domestic prices of importables and increased domestic prices of exportables such as coffee and rice. Fourth, trade liberalisation has indirectly benefited the poor because it raises government revenue, which enhances the government's ability to subsidise the poor. Finally, although the poverty rate in Vietnam has been reduced impressively, there is an increasing disparity between urban and rural areas and, among the latter, concern does exist regarding ethnic minorities. Copyright 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The Philippine business process outsourcing industry is poised to be a significant sector contributing to the country's economic growth. Owing to the rapid development of information and communication technology in the past decade, the industry constantly boasts double-digit growth rates in revenue and manpower. However, as demand for outsourcing decelerated during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, the industry faced its first major challenge. This research explores the Philippine information technology-business process outsourcing industry's performance during the crisis by assessing the post-crisis results of the industry's targets and strategies. The study identifies and analyzes the factors that contribute to the sector's resilience and robust growth during the recession and concludes that offshored services can maintain short-to midterm growth, but in the long term face major challenges with respect to innovation and talent sustainability. More importantly, the research emphasizes the central role of the Philippine government in the decision-making and policy-reform process that is essential in developing the Philippines into a business process outsourcing center of excellence.

Twenty years have passed since Vietnam implemented its comprehensive reform known as Doi moi policy. The paper aims at reviewing and evaluating the structure and pegormance of the Doi moi policy. We conjrm that Vietnam has attained significant achievements in the areas of economic growth, openness to trade, poverty reduction and human development. However, weaknesses and challenges to the economy are emerging. First, the financial sector is lagging far behind, compared with other economic sectors. Second, SOEs still account for a large share in the GDP, demonstrating a sustained and strong role of the government in the economy. Third, a lack of transparency has led to a high level of corruption, dissuading foreigners @om investment, as well as slowing down economic growth. Fourth, the gap between urban and rural areas is widening as a result of globalization. Suggested remedies include accelerating reforms, increasing transparency, changing the role of government, and improving both hard and soft infrastructure in the economy.