Geographical Locations and Institutional Frameworks in Economic Development of Southwestern Vietnam

Abstract

Geographic location and the economic institutional framework are the two important factors that shape the development of economies. The article provides analysis and assessment of their roles in the economic development of provinces and cities in Vietnam’s southwestern region. Localities close to the southeastern region, where the economy is developed, have higher levels of development (per capita income in the region) and higher proportions of industry in the economic structure compared to farther localities, and better economic structures. Therefore, the article shows that geographic location and the economic institutional framework play an active role in promoting economic development in the southwestern region. In order to improve the people's living standards and change the economic structure in a positive way, localities in the region need to improve their economic institutional frameworks and develop their infrastructure.