For the first time, Vietnam is hosting the Asian Meeting of the Econometric Society (AMES) 2024, an event bringing together over 250 experts and scholars from more than 40 countries.
The conference, held in Ho Chi Minh City from August 2 to August 4, offers a unique opportunity for Vietnamese scholars living abroad to return and contribute to their homeland.
Organized by the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts Global (AVSE Global) in collaboration with the Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City and the Leonard de Vinci Business School (France), AMES 2024 is set to inspire valuable discussions and insights into Vietnam's economic development.
AMES 2024 is held in Ho Chi Minh City from August 2 to August 4. Photo: Anh Phuong
The scientific presentations by the speakers at AMES 2024 have sparked numerous valuable ideas for the development of Vietnam's economy, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor Nguyen Duc Khuong, Chairman of AVSE Global, highlighted the conference's role in promoting academic exchange between Vietnam and leading economic scholars worldwide. He emphasized that this platform enables Vietnamese knowledge to reach a global audience and contributes to enhancing Vietnam's intellectual brand.
Professor Khuong noted that previous Asian Meetings of the Econometric Society in East Asia and Southeast Asia were often hosted by developed economies like Japan or China. This marks the first time Vietnam is hosting an economic event of this scale.
Professor Nguyen Duc Khuong speaks at the opening ceremony of AMES 2024. Photo: Anh Phuong
AMES 2024 creates numerous networking opportunities and, through scientific reports, allows top economic experts to provide recommendations for Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee to implement policies aimed at promoting effective economic development, befitting its status as the country's economic "locomotive."
"Many Vietnamese scientists living and working abroad are participating in AMES 2024. The conference provides a chance for Vietnamese intellects to return and contribute to their homeland," Professor Khuong shared.
Discussing the role of econometrics, Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Trung, Rector of the Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City and a member of the AMES 2024 organizing committee, stated that econometrics serves as a basis for scientists to predict macroeconomic fluctuations, playing a crucial role in policy planning.
With over 230 scientific reports, AMES 2024 will offer analyses and forecasts on various economic issues. Experts will also provide valuable warnings amid the current volatile economic landscape. Key topics include solutions for low birth rates, foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA) capital, environmental issues, and green and digital transitions.
Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Trung, Rector of the Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Anh Phuong
Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Trung cited research highlighting strategies to reduce Vietnam's economic dependence on exports and FDI. This has been a complex challenge for policymakers in the country.
According to the Rector of the Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City, this research identifies bottlenecks in Vietnam's economy, such as the disparity between goods trade surplus and service trade deficit. As the global economy fluctuates, these two sectors are vulnerable and lack compensatory measures. Therefore, Vietnam's economy will be affected if countermeasures are not implemented.
Among the more than 230 economic experts' scientific reports discussed at AMES 2024 is "Covid-19 and Gender Inequality in the Labor Market: New Evidence from Vietnam," co-authored by experts Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich (Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies – HIDS) and Yusuke Jinnai (International University of Japan).
This research addresses the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Vietnam's labor market, with rising unemployment rates and declining income levels. However, little evidence suggests gender differences in economic outcomes, specifically income loss and job displacement.
Data for the research was collected using methods employed by the World Bank to measure the impact of Covid-19 on gender inequality. The analysis shows that women are 5.43% more likely to lose jobs and 7.84% more likely to lose income than men.
Notably, women in minority groups have higher job loss and income reduction rates than men, with disparities of 8.28% and 12.66%, respectively. Experts recommend that the government implement support policies for women, focusing on adjusting specific policies for different groups and regions.