Three essays on health, education, and poverty

Abstract

This dissertation explores key development issues in Vietnam, including health, education, and poverty. Chapter I, “Leave No One Behind: Unraveling the Prevalence and Impact of Child Marriage Among Boys and Girls in Vietnam,” examines the prevalence and impact of child marriage among boys and girls. Using Cox proportional hazards regression models and logistic regression analyses on nationally representative data, this chapter investigates the sociodemographic factors associated with child marriage and its effects on reproductive outcomes, social determinants of health, HIV-related outcomes, and subjective well-being. The findings are essential for policymakers in designing interventions to prevent child marriage, promote gender equality, and protect children’s rights in Vietnam. Chapter II, “Sensemaking in Crisis: Unpacking How Teachers Interpret and Respond to Education Policies as Street-Level Bureaucrats,” addresses the unique challenges faced by street-level bureaucrats during the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter adopts the sensemaking framework to explore high school teachers’ experiences in online settings, focusing on their interpretation and implementation of COVID-19-related policies. A survey was conducted to examine the effect of sensemaking on decision-making and willingness to implement, as well as how these factors impact teachers’ perceptions of government policy during the crisis. Providing valuable insights for policymakers and school officials, this study emphasizes the need for a more inclusive, collaborative approach to policy development that values the perspectives and expertise of front-line practitioners. Chapter III, “Foreign Direct Investment, Local Governance, and Poverty Reduction: Evidence from Vietnam,” investigates the impact of foreign investment and local governance on multidimensional poverty in Vietnam from 2016 to 2020. Using provincial-level data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam and the United Nations Development Programme, we applied four econometric models: Ordinary Least Squares, Random Effects, Fixed Effects, and Generalized Method of Moments. The findings underscore the essential role of local-level governance in addressing multidimensional poverty and indicate that improving governance quality is critical for sustainable poverty alleviation. This chapter offers valuable insights for policymakers, highlighting the importance of local-level governance reforms as complementary strategies for effectively tackling poverty in Vietnam.