REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN LAO PDR:GROWTH PATTERNS AND MARKET INTEGRATION

Abstract: Lao PDR has shown a strong record of economic growth and poverty alleviation since the early 1990s. Yet, the pace of economic development has varied significantly between different parts of the country – the rate of growth was initially faster in more developed areas, but after the mid-1990s growth has been stronger in poorer rural areas. Here it is shown that this pattern of regional development has been driven by the nature of market integration. This is highlighted in three case studies covering: (i) the effect of transport infrastructure and local institutions on domestic consumer good markets; (ii) the process of regional integration with neighboring countries; and (iii) the ability of Lao producers to compete on the world market for coffee.

Downloadable at http://swopec.hhs.se/eijswp/papers/eijswp0234.pdf.

EMPLOYMENT AND LIVELIHOODS: Lao PDR, 2009

EMPLOYMENT AND LIVELIHOODS: Lao PDR, 2009. The 4th National Human Development Report
Ministry of Planning and Investment, and UNDP Lao PDR,dowloadable at http://www.undplao.org/newsroom/publication/Lao_NHDR_2009_EN.pdf.

Study on Local Coping Mechanisms in Disaster Management

Downloadable at http://www.adpc.net/pdr-sea/publications/LCM-Lao.pdf.

Poverty in Lao PDR

Study on poverty and their changes in Laos between 1992 and 1997. Downloadable at http://www.adb.org/poverty/forum/pdf/Kakwani-1b.pdf.

ICT RELATED CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF LAO PDR

There is a map of ETL fibre project in this report. Downloadble at http://www.online.kth.se/files/laos.pdf

Lao National E-Government Project

PPT on Lao National E-Government Project. Downloadable at http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UNGC/UNPAN043423.pdf.

Telecenter Development in Laos

This paper has many information about ICT development in Laos (up to 2009).
Downloadable at http://www.unescap.org/idd/events/2009_RW-AP%20Knowledge-hubs/Presentation%20in%20PDF/Lao-Paper.pdf

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