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

VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES 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 Cơng trình hồn thành tại: GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Instructors of scientific research: Dr Phung Quoc Chi 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 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 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 1.2 Research tasks: - Systematizing and clarifying theoretical issues about the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model - Analyzing and assessing the current status of economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam - Proposing main views and solutions to improve the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam Object and scope of the research topic 2.1 Research object The thesis researches deeply on issues of the economic power of rural women in a new-type cooperative model in Vietnam 2.2 Research scope - Location: The field research is conducted on a national scale, in provinces in 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 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 new-type cooperatives in Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, and Can Tho - Selecting 300 interviewees (150 rural women joining the newtype cooperative model and 150 rural women not joining the new-type cooperative model) in Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, Can Tho The author uses the one-time cross-sectional study method The author conducts a random questionnaire survey with rural women, of which 150 people join new-type cooperatives and 150 people not join new-type cooperatives (they are 300 rural women from provinces in 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 Group of macro factors Affecti ng factor s Group of micro factors: - From a new coopera tive model - From the rural women themsel ves Capacity to control, decide and dominate production resources Capacity to absorb and use knowledge and skills in production development Econo mic power of rural women in the newtype cooper ative model Capacity to collect, analyze, manage and apply information in production development Capacity to participate, make decisions and enjoy the results of the new cooperative 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 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 - 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 Structure of the thesis In addition to the introduction, conclusion, appendices and references, the thesis is divided into 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 11 + 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 12 2.2.1 Content of the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model - Capacity to control, decide, and dominate production resources - Capacity to absorb and use knowledge and skills for economic development - Capacity to collect, analyze, manage and apply information to make decisions in economic development - Capacity to participate, make decisions and enjoy results in the newtype cooperative model 2.2.2 Criteria for assessing the power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model - Changes in capacity to control, decide, and dominate production resources: Measuring indicators: Increasing rate of getting loans in line with borrowing needs; Loan source; Loan purpose; Loan period; Ability to repay loans, etc - Changes in the capacity to absorb and use knowledge and skills in production development: Measuring indicators: Participation in capacitybuilding activities for rural women; Training period; Level of knowledge and skills improvement in production - Changes in the capacity to collect, analyze, manage and apply information in production development: Measuring indicators: Provision of information related to the production of rural women; information content; information sources; the extent to which information is applied in production decisions 13 - Change in capacity to participate, make decisions and enjoy the results in the new-type cooperative model: Measuring indicators: Position; awareness of the cooperative; benefits received from the cooperative; quality of the cooperative’s services; participation in the meeting to discuss the cooperative’s work; level of stability; growth in employment and income 2.3 Factors affecting the economic power of rural women in the newtype cooperative model 2.3.1 Macro factors: Policies affecting the rural women’s access to production resources: land ownership; loans; training; agricultural extension services; labor, employment 2.3.2 Micro factors - Factors from cooperatives: With the operational principles and basic characteristics of the cooperative model, this is the model that can help improve the economic power of rural women, provided that the cooperatives operate according to the principles - Factors from rural women themselves: Awareness, education level, social capital of rural women; mobility, assertiveness, autonomy and agility of rural female workers are often limited 2.4 Experience in enhancing the economic power of rural women in the cooperative model of some countries in the world and lessons for Vietnam 2.4.1 Experience in ensuring and exercising the economic power of rural women in the cooperative model of some countries in the world: Japan; India, Thailand, China 14 2.4.3 Lessonss: - The new-type cooperative model is an effective model in enhancing the economic power of rural women - Promoting propaganda and dissemination of guidelines and policies of the Party and the State on collective economy and cooperatives; - Cooperatives need to be models that follow the characteristics of the new-type cooperative model - Promoting activities to support rural women to actively participate in the new-type cooperative model Chapter 3: STATUS OF THE ECONOMIC POWER OF RURAL WOMEN IN THE NEW-TYPE COOPERATIVE MODEL IN VIETNAM 3.1 Overview of the current status of the new-type cooperative model and rural women participating in economic development in Vietnam 3.1.1 Current development status of the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam 3.1.1.1 Development of policies related to the cooperative model in Vietnam - In the period before the renovation, with absolutely giving prominence to the role of the collective economy, the cooperative had rapidly developed in quantity and scale by means of State administrative measures - Since the 6th Congress of the Party, there has been an important change in the cooperative sector The 1996 Cooperative Law is the prelude to the birth of the new-type cooperative model 15 - The 2003 Law on Cooperatives created a more comprehensive and comprehensive legal corridor for cooperatives, initially creating a change in awareness about the cooperative - The revised Law on Cooperatives in 2012 addressed most of the existing problems from previous legal documents 3.1.1.2 Current situation of cooperatives in Vietnam As of December 31, 2018, there were 22,861 cooperatives, including 13,856 agricultural cooperatives (accounting for 60.6%), attracting nearly million members to participate Despite difficulties, the performance of the cooperatives was more and more stable and tends to develop The cooperatives step by step were operating as they were The average revenue in 2018 reached 4,477.3 million VND/cooperative However, in recent years, cooperatives have not yet matched their potentials: internal capacities are still weak, including equipment, facilities, technology, management; production and business activities are still passive; the linkage and cooperation between the cooperatives are not yet tight, with low efficiency 3.1.2 Status of rural women participating in economic development In Vietnam, rural women are an important labor force, making a positive contribution to the process of agricultural and rural industrialization According to data from the 2019 Census, women accounted for 50.2% of the total population; women accounted for 47.4% of the total rural workforce; 77% of rural women were in the rural labor force Particularly, the workforce in cooperatives were 2.4 million, of which more than 50% were female workers The proportion of female employees holding 16 managerial and executive positions in cooperatives was quite low and most of them held the position of deputy or lower level The proportion of unskilled female workers accounted for over 60% of the total number of female workers in the cooperatives Some obstacles of the rural female labor force: Limited technical and professional qualifications; Low education level; 71% of rural female workers not have access to vocational training Vocational training for women is often short-term; Job opportunities are now a pressing issue 3.2 Status of the economic power of rural women in the new-type cooperative model in Vietnam 3.2.1 Change in the capacity to control, decide and dominate production resources Rural women often find it difficult to access resources such as finance and credit According to Oxfam, only 10-20% of people owning land are women In terms of access to capital, rural women often get less loans According to the research results of 150 rural women (in Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, Can Tho), for the women participating in the cooperatives interviewed, the percentage of loans increased and the ability to repay on time increased Before joining the cooperative, only 39% got loans for production, but after joining the cooperative, 52.4% got loans Before joining the cooperative, 4% could not pay debts on time, but after joining the cooperative this rate was 0% When participating in cooperatives, the rate of rural women receiving material and technical assistance is much larger than the group of women who not participate in cooperatives: 36.2% receive the training in 17 business management (26% in the non-cooperative group); 75.4% receive the training in technical expertise (this rate in the group of women who not participate in cooperatives is 38%); 27.5% are supported with production machinery and equipment (this rate in the group of women who not participate in cooperatives is 20%); 14% receive the branding support (this rate in the group of women who not participate in cooperatives is 7%) 100% of rural women participating in cooperatives are provided with production support services for their members 3.2.2 Change in capacity to absorb and use knowledge and skills in production development According to the 2019 Census, the proportion of trained female workers in the total number of female workers by professional and technical qualifications increased from 2013 to 2019 79.5 % of female workers are still untrained Through interviewing 150 rural women in the new-type cooperative model (in Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, Can Tho), if compared with the time before joining the cooperative, it can be seen that the cooperatives have created favorable conditions for rural women to participate more in capacity building activities Before joining cooperatives, only 38% could participate in capacity building training activities, but after joining cooperatives, this number increased significantly, up to 94.4% A comparison between the group of rural women who join the cooperatives and the group of rural women who not join the cooperative shows that, after joining the cooperative or the current economic type, the proportion of training to improve capacity of the latter is only 75.6% while 18 this rate in the former is 94.4% 100% of rural women participating in cooperatives say that their knowledge and skills are improved after joining the cooperatives 3.2.3 Change in capacity to collect, analyze, manage and apply information in production development According to the General Statistics Office, 43% of male-headed households received information from extension workers 12 months prior to the survey compared with 35% of female-headed households For 150 rural women joining cooperatives (in Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, Can Tho) interviewed for information provision, awareness raising, only 49% of women were provided with the information related to their business and production before joining cooperatives, but after joining cooperatives, 100% women were provided with the information For the application of information in production decision making, for the rural women group participating in cooperatives, 100% of the women say that when provided with the information, they can make better decisions in business and production while the rate in the group not participating in cooperatives is 95.7% 3.2.4 Change in capacity to participate, make decisions and enjoy results in the new-type cooperative model According to a research report on cooperative economy by Oxfam and the RCD, through a survey of farmers, including women, there are many positive changes in household economy when participating in cooperative models 80.9% say that the cooperation increases revenue for their households; 77.8% affirm that their profits increase; 85.6% affirm that ... 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