Nghiên cứu sinh
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DISSERTATION
Dissertation title: Impacts of tourism on urbanization and income inequality in Vietnam
Specialization: Economics (E-PhD) Specialization code: 9310101
PhD candidate: Tran Thu Thuy
Supervisor(s): 1. Assoc.Prof.Dr. Le Thi Bich Ngoc 2. Dr. Pham Lan Huong
Institution: National Economics University
Original contributions on academic and theoretical aspects
This research makes four main contributions to the literature on tourism development and income inequality. First, this dissertation provides new empirical evidence on the relationship between tourism development, urbanization, and income inequality in Vietnam by integrating the spatio-temporal fix framework with spatial econometric analysis. This research demonstrates that the effects are spatially and temporally heterogeneous. This finding challenges the “one-size-fits-all” assumption commonly found in the literature. Second, the study identifies a mechanism through which tourism development influences income inequality. The results show that tourism development is negatively associated with demographic urbanization, while urbanization itself has an income inequality-reducing effect. This implies an indirect transmission channel in which tourism development weakens the equalizing role of urban population absorption, thereby contributing to rising income inequality. The dissertation extends existing research beyond direct effect estimation and provides a more nuanced understanding of how tourism development reshapes distributional outcomes. Third, this dissertation makes a methodological contribution by combining advanced spatial econometric techniques with multi-source datasets at the provincial level in Vietnam. This is among the first studies to jointly apply GTWR and the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) to examine the tourism development – urbanization– income inequality nexus. Fourth, the findings reveal a divergence between built-up growth and population growth in major cities, providing empirical support for the argument that tourism development - driven urban expansion may function as a land-intensive spatial fix rather than a mechanism of inclusive urban development.
Recommendations derived from the findings of the dissertation
Based on the findings, this research proposes several policy implications. First, tourism development strategies should be differentiated across regions, considering local socio-economic conditions and spatial heterogeneity, rather than applying uniform policies. Second, policymakers should strengthen the link between tourism development and inclusive urbanization by promoting affordable housing, labor market integration, and public service provision, ensuring that urban expansion is accompanied by population absorption. Third, greater attention should be paid to the spatial spillover effects of tourism development. Coordinated regional planning is necessary to manage interprovincial linkages and reduce unintended income inequality outcomes
