Vulnerability and Resilience against Natural Disasters in Central Vietnam
Author: Tam Bang Vu*
University of Hawaii.
Published Date: 2025-07-02
Keywords: growth, GDP per capita, vulnerabilities, resiliencies, local governance.
JEL classification: O40, Q54.
Abstract:
We investigate the impacts of natural disasters (henceforth called disaster impact) on Central Vietnam's regional GDP growth per capita. We use provincial data on disaster damages for nineteen provinces and cities in Vietnam’s Central Region from the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority (VDMA). The Statistical Yearbook of Each Province in the Region (SYEP) provides three state, private, and foreign capital datasets. The General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSOV) provides data on local vulnerabilities and resiliencies. Since GDP per capita is also a measure of resiliency, we write the estimation model as a system of equations to account for the possible feedback effects. This system calls for three-stage least squares (3SLS) estimations. The results showed that vulnerabilities exacerbate the disaster impact, while resiliencies help reduce this impact on regional GDP per capita growth. Regarding the feedback effect, GDP per capita does lessen the disaster impact. Last, we suggest strategies for local governance to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience.
