Economic doctoral thesis summary economic power of rural women in a new cooperative model in vietnam

The development of the new-type cooperative model has created opportunities for rural women to enhance their economic power in terms of recognizing market needs, recognizing opportunitie

PHAM THI HUONG GIANG

ECONOMIC POWER OF RURAL WOMEN IN A NEW COOPERATIVE MODEL IN VIETNAM

PHÁT TRIỂN HỢP TÁC XÃ VẬN TÀI THỦY-BỘ NỘI ĐỊA Ở ĐỒNG BẰNG SÔNG CỬU LONG

Major: Economic development

Code: 9.31.01.05

ECONOMIC DOCTORAL THESIS SUMMARY

HANOI - 2020

VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Instructors of scientific research:

1 Dr Phung Quoc Chi

2 Dr Phan Vinh Dien

Reviewer 1: Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Chien Thang

Reviewer 2: Assoc Prof Dr Ngo Quang Minh

Reviewer 3: Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Mau Dung

The thesis will be defended in front of the Academy-level Thesis Assessment Council at: Academy of Social Sciences, 477 Nguyen Trai,

Thanh Xuan, Hanoi

At hour, day month 2020

The thesis can be found at: - National Library

-Library of the Academy of Social Sciences

PREFACE

1 Neccessity of the research topic

In Vietnam, rural women are a major contributor to the industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas With accounting for more than 47% of the rural workforce, promoting roles, including economic power, for rural women in Vietnam is an indispensable requirement However, at present, the position of rural women in Vietnam

in all areas of life, social relations and in the family has not been fully promoted and their economic power is still limited

In economic models in the agricultural and rural areas, the cooperative economy, in which the cooperative model is an important element Cooperatives operate under the newly born and developed model

of cooperatives, bringing practical economic benefits to the members of the cooperative The development of the new-type cooperative model has created opportunities for rural women to enhance their economic power in terms of recognizing market needs, recognizing opportunities to access resources and posibilities to develop of the new type of cooperatives, thereby increasing income and role in families and communities Through the new-type cooperative model, the economic power of members, including rural women, is promoted, confirmed and acknowledged

There have been international studies on women’s economic power, cooperative models In Vietnam, there are studies on cooperatives, or on the role of women in rural areas, which have provided a basic theoretical basis for cooperatives, the role of rural women in the country development process However, within the range of documents that the author has access

to, there are no studies in Vietnam that analyze in depth the economic

power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model With the above

situation, the topic of “Economic power of rural women in the new-type

cooperative model in Vietnam” is selected by the author as a research topic

for her doctoral thesis in development economics that brings the theoretical and practical significance

1 Research purposes and tasks of the topic

1.1 Research purposes:

On the basis of clarifying the theoretical basis, the thesis identifies the current economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam, thereby proposing a system of solutions to enhance their economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam

- Location: The field research is conducted on a national scale, in 3

provinces in 3 regions nationwide: Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, and Can

Tho

- Time: From 2013 to 2019 and solutions for the 2020-2030 period

- Topic to research: The study focuses on the economic power of

Vietnamese rural women (in rural areas) in the new-type cooperative model

in the agricultural sector (accounting for more than 60% of the total current number of cooperatives, at the same time accounting for over 60% of the total number of cooperative members) The study only focuses on the study

of the economic power of rural women who are members of the cooperative; the economic power of rural women who are leaders of the cooperatives will be mentioned to a certain extent

3 Research methodology and methods

3.1 Methodology:

The thesis uses research methodology of the specialization of economic development The thesis researches on the relationship between rural women joining a new-type cooperative model and enhancing economic empowerment for rural women in Vietnam The author has the comprehensive approach of the relationship between the factors to provide appropriate solutions to enhance the economic empowerment of rural women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam

3.2 Approach and research method

3.2.1 Approach: Participatory approach, Theory of sustainable development; Theory of inclusive growth

3.2.2 Research Methods:

The thesis uses qualitative and quantitative research methods, in which qualitative method is the main one Specifically, there are following methods:

1) Method of collecting secondary information: The research thesis analyzes domestic and foreign research projects, books, textbooks, documents related to the theoretical basis of cooperative models, new-type cooperatives and the economic power of rural women The thesis uses statistics, publications, newspapers, published documents

2) Method of investigation and survey:

- In-depth interview with 30 rural and non-cooperative women; case study of 3 new-type cooperatives in Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, and Can Tho

- Selecting 300 interviewees (150 rural women joining the type cooperative model and 150 rural women not joining the new-type cooperative model) in Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, Can Tho

new-The author uses the one-time cross-sectional study method new-The author conducts a random questionnaire survey with rural women, of which

150 people join new-type cooperatives and 150 people do not join new-type cooperatives (they are 300 rural women from 3 provinces in 3 regions across the country: Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, Can Tho) In each province,

50 rural women interviewed are joining the new-type cooperatives and 50 rural women are not joining the new-type cooperatives

The author uses 02 questionnaires for the survey, of which 01 questionnaire is for rural women participating in cooperatives operating under the new model and the other questionnaire is for rural women not participating in cooperatives operating under the new model The

questionnaires are developed on important issues related to the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model The questionnaires are designed with reference to the questionnaires used in the previous surveys of the Vietnam Women’s Union and some international organizations

3.3 Analytical method

During the implementation of the thesis, common economic research methods used to solve problems raised in the research process include:

- Method of data processing: Data and questionnaires are synthesized

manually and systematized, processed and calculated through SPSS software Depending on the content to be analyzed, data are calculated and shown in the corresponding table or drawing The number of votes given out is 300 and the number of votes collected is 293

- Methods of data and data analysis:

+ Method of synthesis and statistics: Data are collected systematically, reflecting the level and status of relevant issues, the relationship between factors affecting economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model

+ Comparative analysis method: Analyzing the results, comparing the impact levels of the new-type cooperative model on the economic power of rural women; comparing the economic power of rural women participating in the new-type cooperative model and rural women not participating in the new-type cooperative model; comparing criteria for the time before joining the cooperative and after joining the cooperatives of rural women participating in the new-type cooperative model

3.4 Analytical frame

4 Contributions

- Systematizing the theoretical basis of the new-type cooperative model and the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model; factors affecting economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model

Econo mic power

of rural women

in the new- type cooper ative model

Change in the capacity to control, decide, and dominate production resources

Change in capacity

to absorb and use knowledge and skills in production development

Change in capacity

to collect, analyze, manage and apply information in production development

Change in capacity to participate, make decisions and enjoy results in the new-type cooperative model

Group

of micro factors:

- From

a new coopera tive model

- From the rural women themsel ves

1 Capacity to control, decide and dominate production resources

2 Capacity to absorb and use knowledge and skills in production development

3 Capacity to collect, analyze, manage and apply information in production development

4 Capacity to participate, make decisions and enjoy the results of the new cooperative model

- Analyzing and assessing the current status of the economic power

of rural women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam; the impact

of the new-type cooperative model on enhancing the economic power of rural Vietnamese women; strengths, limitations, and causes of enhancing economic power of Vietnamese rural women in the new-type cooperative model

- Analyzing the international and domestic context, thereby proposing the main views and solutions to enhance the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam

5 Structure of the thesis

In addition to the introduction, conclusion, appendices and references, the thesis is divided into 4 chapters:

Chapter 1: Overview of research related to the thesis topic

Chapter 2: Theoretical and practical bases on the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model

Chapter 3: Current situation of the economic power of rural women

in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam

Chapter 4: Solutions to enhancing the economic power of rural

women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam

Chapter 1:

OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH RELATED TO THE THESIS TOPIC

1.1 Studies related to the new cooperative and cooperative model

1.1.1 International studies: Studies by Kimberly A Zeuli and Robert

Cropp (2004); Brian M Henehan and Bruce L Anderson (2001); John O’Connor (2001); International Labor Organization (2014)

1.1.2 Studies in Vietnam: Vietnam Cooperative Union (2016); Dang

Kim Son, Tran Cong Thang, Do Lien Huong, Vo Thi Thanh Tam, Pham Thi Kim Dung (2014); Ministry of Planning and Investment (2012); Luu Hoai Chuan in 2002; Phung Quoc Chi (2010)

1.2 Studies on female labor in rural areas and the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model

1.2.1 International studies: Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

adopted by the Fourth Beijing World Conference on Women (1995); Berhane Ghebremichael (2013); Lisa Schincariol McMurtry and JJ McMurtry (2015); Nandini Azad published by the World Union of Cooperatives in 2017

1.2.2 Studies in Vietnam: Hoang Ba Thinh (2014); Le Thi Quy (2010);

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy (2017); Institute for Family and Gender Studies, Australian Government, UN Women (2016); Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Women (2014); Nguyen Viet Dang, Quyen Dinh Ha, Nguyen Tuyet Lan, Nguyen Minh Thu, Do Thanh Huyen (2006); Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan (2017); Hoang Ba Thinh (2001)

1.3 Studies on the impact of enhancing the economic power of rural women on socio-economic development

1.3.1 Impact of enhancing the economic power of rural women on economic development: Important India (2018); United Nations Agency for

Equality and Empower Women (UN Women) and Institute for Family and Gender Studies (2016)

1.3.2 Impact of enhancing the economic power of rural women on

social development: Oxfarm (2017)

However, up to the present time, in Vietnam, to the extent that the sources of information and data are accessed by the author, there are no studies to clarify the economic power of rural women as well as the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model; the influence of the new-type cooperative model on the economic power of rural women; and the role and potential of members of the cooperative, including female workers and female members, promoted, confirmed and recognized through the new cooperative model Only a few studies have implications This is the research gap that the thesis approaches to supplement the points and findings

Chapter 2:

THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL BASES ON THE ECONOMIC POWER

OF RURAL WOMEN IN THE NEW-TYPE COOPERATIVE MODEL

2.1 Concept of the new-type cooperative model and the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model

2.1.1 Concept of the new-type cooperative model

- Concept of cooperatives and new-type cooperatives: From the concept

of international and Vietnamese cooperative models through stages, the

thesis uses the concept: “new-type cooperatives are the ones established, organized and operated in strict accordance with the nature and principles specified in the Cooperative Law; give highly efficient production, trading and services along the value chain, contributing to creating jobs and

improving members’ income”

- Operational principles and basic characteristics of the new-type cooperative model: According to the seven operating principles of cooperatives specified in the 2012 Cooperative Law, the basic features of the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam can be generalized as follows: + Nature of operation: The new-type cooperative model is an economic organization with autonomy, self-responsibility and effective operation to meet the needs of its members; voluntary; all benefits belong to the members

+ Organizational goals: To firstly satisfy members’ general economic, cultural and social needs

+ Service object, the relationship of the cooperative and members: The service object is the cooperative member Members of a cooperative have a dual role of being both the owner and the customer of the cooperative

+ Property ownership: Cooperative members contributing capital to cooperatives are returned their contributed capital when leaving the cooperatives; members still own private means of production and have private economic activities

+ Management methods: For members’ benefits; equal voting rights; one vote for each member

+ Profit distribution: The remaining income after using the prescribed funds is distributed to members The income distributed to the member is the property owned by the member

2.1.2 Concept of the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model

- According to Oxfam, “Enhancing the economic power of rural women

is a process in which women’s lives are transformed from a state of limited power due to gender stereotypes to a state in which they have equal rights with men”

- Concept of the economic power of rural women in the new-type

cooperative model: “The economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model is the capacity of rural women to control, decide and dominate production resources; acquire and use knowledge and skills in production development; analyze, manage and apply information in production development; participate, make decisions and enjoy the results

of a new cooperative model”

2.2 Content and criteria to evaluate the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model