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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Forest extraction or cultivation? Local solutions from Lao PDR

I myself have actually come across a few Lao who spending most of their schools days without cashes, but had made it to universities abroad. I think Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) were what made this possible. The following paper may give you an idea about how NTFPs are still important to Lao livelihoods.
http://www.etfrn.org/ETFRN/WORKSHOP/BIODIVERSITY/documents/foppes1.pdf

Assessment of Current Garment Industry in the Lao PDR

A report based on field survey of 21 garment factories in Vientiane, from March 12 to March 25, 2005, with a set of recommendations for possible development of garment industry in Laos. The report can be found at http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/gsics-publication/jics/sakurai&ogawa_14-1.pdf

Use of Natural Biological Resources and Their Roles in Household Food Security in Northwest Laos

A study that focuses on agriculture-forestry-based livelihood systems of Northwestern Lao people through village studies, including semi-structured group interviews, questionnaire survey, participatory observation and wealth ranking in Luang Namtha province. The paper can be downloaded from http://www.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/seas/41/4/410402.pdf