The alleviation of poverty in society is an imperative of governments and an
influence on economies around the world. Economic growth has for many decades
been believed to be a placatory instrument but reliance on economic development does
not necessarily yield optimum results. Hence, poverty reduction has also been a
fascination for researchers who seek to target specific questions thus contributing to
the social welfare of defined populations. These cumulative efforts of researchers are
intended to initiate change in government policies thus transforming the world into the
way we would like it to be.
This thesis is dedicated to answering a set of such questions by presenting a
quantitative assessment of industry related variables in Vietnam. The study proceeds
by integrating conceptual and empirical literature relating to the topic of investigation.
The topic of poverty has attracted significant attention and has therefore been studied
extensively. Prominent contributors such as economist Amartyr Sen and the World
Bank institution are drawn upon to present a concise definition of poverty. Poverty
lines are then presented as a mechanism used to initiate quantitative assessments of
poverty. This concept is delineated in the context of Vietnam. International and
Vietnamese empirical studies are reviewed and a background to Vietnam‘s economic
reform process is presented. Together, these initial steps form a platform from which
the study emanates.