Assessment of Development Results : Evaluation of UNDP's Contribution

If you want to know what UNDP had done in Laos between 1997 and 2006, take a look at this report. Downloadable at http://www.undp.org/eo/documents/ADR/ADR_Reports/ADR_Laos.pdf

Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Benefit and Impact of Government Financial Management System

A powerpoint presentation on financial management system in Laos. I could not find information of the year this presentation happened, but it should be quite recent as the author put Lao per capita GDP at the level as high as 730 USD. Downloadable at http://www.icgfm.org/documents/9b-BenefitsrealizationLaos-SanjayPraseuth.pdf

Country Report on Fiscal Policy and Debt Sustainability in Lao PDR

A handout in an UN workshop. Consists of (1) Country profile, (2) Recent economic development, (3) Fiscal policy and (4) Debt sustainability. I found (3) and (4) to be quite informative.

TRAINS ~ Country Notes - LAOS -

Basically about tariff, but includes also information on taxes, as most of them are also imposed on the time of import. Downloadable at http://r0.unctad.org/trains_new/country_notes/laos_2004.PDF

Asia-Pacific Taxation Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) 2008/09 Edition

Updated information on taxation in Laos. Downloadable at http://www.kpmg.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Asia_Pacific_Taxation/Laos-2008-09-edition.pdf

Laos turns to future WTO membership commitments

Recent developments in Laos' WTO accession. http://www.thailandwto.org/Doc/News/6897.pdf

Study on Land Tax and Land Fees Policy in Lao PDR

The report found that it cost the administration LAK 14 billion (USD 1.4 million) to collect LAK 27 billion (USD 2.7 million) as Land Tax. It also suggested some reform measures if the target revenue is to be met.
http://www2.gtz.de/Fdokumente/Fbib/F06-1112.pdf

Public Expenditure Review: Integrated Fiduciary Assessment

If you are interested in how public spending are planned, implemented, and differences among sectors (agriculture, roads, education, health, environment), this paper is worth taking a look at. Downloadable at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLAOPRD/Resources/293582-1163107098038/LaoPDRPERIFA2006GrayCoverV.1May152007.pdf

Agrarian Land-Use Transformation in Northern Laos

Based on filed surveys and satellite images analysis, the study found transformation of upland swidden area to permanent agricultural land (especially to grow sugar cane, maize and rubber) to have happened in Northern part of Laos along Asian Highway Route No.3 (North-South Corridor 3A) during the early 2000s. Downloadable at
www.nafri.org.la/document/SSLWM/ch2_07_sithong.pdf

Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey 2002/03 LECS 3

The official report on Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey 2002/03 (LECS 3). This electronoc version is freely downloadable while you have to pay to get the hard copy version. Downloadable at http://www.undplao.org/whatwedo/bgresource/poverty/Final%20report%20LECS%203.pdf

Reining in Provincial Fiscal ‘Owners’: Decentralization In Lao P.D.R.

A power point presentation material about decentralization of fiscal management system in Laos. Downloadable at http://aysps.gsu.edu/isp/files/ISP_DECENTRALIZATION_CONFERENCE_LAO_PDR_PRESENTATION.pdf

Elements of Useful Knowledge Vol. 3 (1806)

Only 12 row description on Laos and published in 1806. Laos was known then as a country between Camboja (Cambodia), Tunkin (Vietnam) and Siam (Thailand) with a river (Mekong?) running through it. Lao were also observed as to be closed to Siamese (present Thai) in terms of religion, but resemble Southern Chinese (meaning fairer skin?) in terms of appearance. Full view on google book at http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=O4tgVvBjhPwC&pg=PA216&dq=Laos&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=1&ei=XAc3SqeXAYzMlQSanoWsBQ

Farmers' Perceptions of Rice-Growing Techniques in Laos : "Primitive" or "Thammasat" ?

Author concluded, from field survyes, that agriculture in Laos were still primitive or thammasat (ທຳມະຊາດ : nature or primitive) or not yet modernized. But looking at many adversed socio-economic and environmental impacts in Thailand for instance, author thought modernization of agriculture in Laos should rather be done harmoniously with the nature. Downloadable at
http://www.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/seas/31/2/310203.pdf

Stable Forest Cover under Increasing Populations of Swidden Cultivators

Authors concluded from satellite images' analysis and field surveys that, post war growth of population relying on swidden farming, was the main cause of forest cover loss in Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area (NNT NPA) during 1960s and 1970s. The trend has been however slowed down since 1980s by increasing reliance on foreign demand on local forest resources such as wildlife. Therefore alleviating population growth, rather than banning/controlling swidden farming and/or wildlife trade, may be more effective in preserving forest and wildlife. Downloadable at http://dlc.dlib.indiana.edu/archive/00005348/01/ES-2009-2873.pdf

Agricultural Mechanization in Rural Area of Lao PDR: A Case Study of Farm Tractorization

Base on analysis on 88 surveyed farming households, authors concluded that farmers with tractors grow and sell more rice on larger farm lands. I wonder if the causality might be the other way round, such as, they could afford tractors because they were firstly bigger. Anyway, as they also found that farmers with tractors have incresing returns to scale production, shifting from water buffalo to tractors would likely be a smart move, for those hoping to grow. Downloadable at https://qir.kyushu-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2324/12878/1/p593.pdf

Universal Geography Volume 3 (1822)

Published in 1822 and quite relaxing book to read. I enjoyed the romance of history and exploration spirits of white people, reading this book. Pages 363 to 392 were on countries in Indochinese Penisula including Laos. It showed their limitted, broken knowledges about the region, but at the same time, their determinations to sort things out. Full view on google book at http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=6WQDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA365&dq=Laos&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=1&ei=zxkvSr_nCIjAlQSlo7j8Bg#PPA363,M1

Education and Earnings in Lao PDR: Further Results

Three main conclusions were, (1) rate of return to education was on the rising trend, (2) private workers got more with higher education when compared to public servants, and (3) primary education were the most profitable one (for workers) outside the capital. I think many more interesting implications can still be drawn from variety of estimated results in this paper. Downloadable at http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/gsics-publication/gwps/2007-16.pdf

Rice in Laos

Published in 2006 and covered many topics from historical, geographical, ethnical, technical and institutional aspects of rice and rice productions in Laos. The book contains many of spatial and time series information on rice, which in many cases is just the agriculture itself in Laos' case, and will certainly be of interests not only to agriculturalists, but also historian as well as economists, doing researches on Laos. Viewable without restriction on google book at
http://www.google.com/books?id=k3bLVNvzWcQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Laos&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=1&ei=RLMpStmOL4nQkwSt29zzBg&hl=ja#PPA42,M1 and downloadable from publisher's site.

Soil Fertility and Farming Systems in a Slash and Burn Cultivation Area of Northern Laos

If fallow (the period farmers let the cultuvated soil rest) need to be shorten for some reasons, such as by pressure from increased population, authors think agroforestry system that combines crop cultivation may be a way to keep the soil fertile. Downladable at
http://www.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/seas/41/4/410407.pdf

Lao Village Information System (LAVIS) Material

Author had every things in three languages (English, Lao and Japanese). Don't try to read all three because you will easily get confused. It is, in large parts, a GIS (Geographic Information System) presentation of population census in 1995. Though may not be the standard ones, the translations of places, ethnic group names into all three languages can be quite handy in many cases. Downloadable at
http://huapli.media.osaka-cu.ac.jp/lavis/material/lavis-material.pdf

Farmer Education and Rice Production in Lao PDR

Interesting and encouraging finding! Author found from econometric analysis on LECS2 that farmers with education produce more rice. Downloadable at http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/gsics-publication/jics/onphanhdala_16-3.pdf

Compulsory Education in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam

Published in 1955 and very informative about primary education in colonial era. The annual number of primary schools and attended pupils from 1915 to 1952 was just precious. Though as a Lao, I was very disappointed to see that there were much fewer schools and students in Laos compared to Cambodia and Vietnam. Downloadable at http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0000/000029/002901eo.pdf.

Internal Migration and Socio-economic Change in Lao PDR

A ppt presentation on above topic. The graph of number of garment factory by size are very informative. Downloadable at http://www.grm.cuhk.edu.hk/en/4ipgc/download/AroomLT1PPT/6A1Phouxaykab6A12July.ppt.

IMPACT OF BORDER TRADE IN LOCAL LIVELIHOODS : Lao-Chinese Border Trade in Luang Namtha & Oudomxay Provinces

A background paper for National Development Report of UN in 2006. Besides positive effects, the paper raised migration, single crop reliance, uncertainty of expected income, smuggling and environment impacts as concerns for border trade in Northern Laos. Downloadable at http://www.nsc.gov.la/Products/NHDR%202006/Technical%20Background%20Papers%20in%20English/CBT_NHDR.pdf.

Remote Sensing-related Activities of Forest Management in Lao PDR

Some information about how Remote Sensing Technology is and should be used in forest management in Laos.

http://www.restec.or.jp/geoss/materials/PDF/ForestFire/2day/2day_5_Sengtianthr.pdf

Informatisation of SMEs in Laos

A powerpoint presentation. I didn't know of such an English word before. Informatisation is getting something on the WWW! The mentioned concept of GMS e-business/e-commerce was also interesting, though not much detailed information were provided. Downloadable at
http://www.unescap.org/icstd/applications/projects/e-business-GMS/pilots/Yunnan/docs/launching/presentations/Lao_Peoples_Democratic_Republic.ppt

Non-Wood Forest Products Marketing and Small Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation in Lao PDR

A presentation material that may give you an idea about what non-wood forest products mean in Laos.

http://cecoeco.catie.ac.cr/descargas/Vongvilai.pdf

FDI - SME Linkages (Two Case Studies)

The report used some statics and figures to show that FDI (Foreign Direct Investments) had contributed to economic developments in Laos, but argued that this could be
enhance by promotion of FDI and SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) linkages. It was a surprise to see Local Inputs for the Gold and Copper mine LXML (an Australian miner and State) and Beer Lao (Carlsberg and State ) accounted for 21% and 30% respectively. Taxes paid to the state was $53 million for LXML, and $38 million for Beer Lao, in 2006. Can be downloaded at http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/en-FDI-SME-Linkages.pdf

Acceptance and suitability of renewable energy technologies in Lao PDR

Interesting report on trendy topic. One of the conclusion was combination of RE (Renewable Energy) technologies, such as Solar Power, Biomass etc. could be an answer to off-grid electrification and on-grid efficiency in Laos.

http://library.wur.nl/way/bestanden/clc/1885912.pdf

Sugarcane in Phongsaly: Story of a forecast disaster

Short but informative paper. It discussed conditions, under which replacing slash and burn farming by cash crop production might be a solution to forest preservation. Though not discussed explicitly, the paper also provided first hand information on the question why it was difficult to make the contract farming work.

http://mekonginfo.org/mrc_en%5Ccontact.nsf/0/2B49690F4E42255487256906003074BE/$FILE/pddp.pdf

Vietnamese Migrant Workers in Savannakhet, Lao PDR A Study of the impacts of their economic migration on the region

The paper said it was interesting that while Cambodian and Lao went to work in Thailand, Chinese and Vietnamese were, on the other hand, coming to work in these two countries. Through studies base on interviews, it concluded that while Vietnamese workers in Savannakhet contributed to both countries by providing skilled labor in Laos and remit home, social impacts were also expected.

http://www.mekonginstitute.org/html/images/pdf/rocke2/5Paper_Vmigrants_in_Lao_PDR.pdf

LOGISTICS DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE FACILITATION IN LAO PDR

Very informative report on issues as in the topic.

http://www.bus.tu.ac.th/usr/ruth/file/Lao-World%20Bank.pdf

Understanding the supply chain of paper mulberry bark in Lao PDR using causal mapping

Quite interesting paper. It uses causal mapping to examine the factors shaping the supply chain of paper mulberry bark. The supply chain is seen as a network of six
functional groups (farmers, district traders, Lao exporters, Thai manufacturers,
government extension staff and consultants). There were too many findings so please have a look by your self at
http://www.wiso.boku.ac.at/fileadmin/_/H73/H733/Laos/Report_CausalMaps.pdf

Road Development and Poverty Reduction: The Case of Lao PDR

I just can't agree more. No roads, no incomes.
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN022865.pdf

Pro-Poor Tourism and the Value of Heritage in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

This paper thinks that there should be more activities to foster local awareness of, and appreciation for Luang Prabang’s (or Luang Pabang, a city that was registered as world heritage in Laos) cultural and heritage significance, on which the future of the site will depend. Downloadable at
http://www.tourismroi.com/Content_Attachments/28016/File_633546129004585181.pdf

DETERMINANTS OF POVERTY IN LAO PDR

This paper uses a detailed household survey data set to examine the determinants of income and poverty in Lao PDR. It found that household size, dependency ratios, education, access to agricultural inputs, geography and ethnicity are among the main determinants of per capita consumption.
http://swopec.hhs.se/eijswp/papers/eijswp0223.pdf