Entrepreneurial Women as Catalysts for Socioeconomic Development in Transitioning Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam

Abstract

In this longitudinal study the authors examine the collective interplay of history, culture, policy and marketing, and their dynamic effects on entrepreneurial women in transitioning Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam (CLV). The authors introduce a systemic model to illustrate key factors and relationships, and then share results that indicate themes for entrepreneurial success and societal welfare. Important findings include insights into the evolving landscape in which women have opportunities to generate income, to provide employment, and to improve their own conditions, status and roles, as well as the well‐being of their families, communities and countries. The authors conclude with a discussion of policies and strategies to re‐orient various institutions and sectors to empower women as catalysts for greater economic growth and societal welfare. Opportunities for future research are suggested.

Keywords:

• Women
• Entrepreneurship
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Vietnam
• Socioeconomic Development

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the help of the Vietnam’s National Committee for the Advancement of Women, the Vietnamese Women’s Worker Union, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ho Chi Minh City Economics University, the Vietnam and Cambodia Ministries of Education, the permanent mission to the United Nations of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Lao National University, the World Bank, the Cambodian Development Council, various ministries of the government of the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Marley Foundation and the numerous informants and translators who graciously gave of their valuable time. The authors thank A. Fuat Firat, Jay Rosengard and the three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Notes

[1] We enter deliberately vague dollar values and percentage ranges because they vary as a function of the measuring and reporting institutions. Regardless, the precision is such that any observer would conclude these countries are economically among the poorest on Earth, based on conventional measures of the construct “rich/poor”.

[2] Some might argue the Grameen Bank is more public relations endeavor than bank, but it remains a touchstone for its opinion‐leading influence on micro‐loans to the poor.

[3] Note, for example, that in all three countries examined, most banks are arms of the state and many officials were reluctant to criticize state banks. Moreover, the financial infrastructure in CLV still often supports state industries and state‐owned agricultural cooperatives or state‐partnered ventures.

[4] All names in quotes are fictitious.

[5] This case actually is quite interesting and not atypical. Some women move to these urban centers with noble intentions and then fall prey to nefarious activities involving sex, drugs and other illicit endeavors. Secondly, it indicates the considerable mobility by motivated and/or desperate women, and the willingness by some groups (in this case, the Vietnamese) to move to places (e.g., Cambodia) where they generally are not welcome, for the purposes of making money and helping their families.

[6] This text, similarly to the other interviews interpreted by members of our team, is a distillation of a long interview; its essence was reported back to the informant, to ensure accuracy and clarity of our interpretation.

[7] These may also include access to capital from the Diaspora, i.e., Viet Kieu or overseas Vietnamese.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

William J. Ardrey

William J. Ardrey, IV is Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia

Anthony Pecotich

Anthony Pecotich is Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia

Clifford J. Shultz

Clifford J. Shultz, II is Professor and Marley Foundation Chair at Arizona State University.