Abstract
This study examines the impact of Internet use on household welfare in rural Vietnam using nationally representative data from the 2018 and 2020 Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (N = 14,138 households). To mitigate selection bias, propensity score matching with robustness checks is employed. Household welfare is measured by total and per capita income and expenditure. The results show that Internet adoption significantly improves all four indicators: Internet users report higher incomes and expenditures than comparable non-users, suggesting expanded livelihood opportunities, greater labor market access, and enhanced consumption capacity. These findings highlight the Internet’s role as a driver of rural welfare improvements and a tool for reducing rural – urban disparities. Policy recommendations emphasize investment in rural digital infrastructure, affordability measures, and digital literacy initiatives, particularly for disadvantaged groups and remote regions. Bridging the digital divide will be crucial for leveraging digital transformation to promote poverty reduction and inclusive rural development in Vietnam. A limitation is that, despite controlling for observable characteristics, unobserved heterogeneity may remain, which should be considered when interpreting the findings.
Key words: Internet use; Household welfare; Rural development; Propensity score matching; Vietnam.
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Ban biên tập Tạp chí Kinh tế & Quản trị Kinh doanh
Phòng 514, Nhà điều hành, trường Đại học Kinh tế & Quản trị Kinh doanh
Địa chỉ: Phường Tân Thịnh, thành phố Thái Nguyên
Email: tapchikt-qtkd@tueba.edu.vn; Điện thoại: 0208.3903373
