Household Entrepreneurship and Social Networks: Panel Data Evidence from Vietnam

Huu Chi Nguyen () and Christophe Nordman
Additional contact information
Huu Chi Nguyen: University of Paris 13

No 10482, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using a unique panel of household businesses for Vietnam, this paper sheds light on the links between households' and entrepreneurs' social networks and business performance. We address two related questions. One first question asks if we can find evidence of a differentiated effect of employment of members of the family versus hired workers on the business performance. A second question tackles the respective effects of various dimensions of social networks on the business technical efficiency. The hypothesis is that, beyond the channel of labour productivity, entrepreneurs that are confronted with an unfavourable social environment may produce less efficiently and realize a lower output than what could be possible with the same amount of resources. We find evidence of a marginal productivity differential between family and hired labour and highlight results consistent with the presence of adverse social network effects faced by households running a business, in particular ethnic minorities. We stress the importance of professional networks for successful entrepreneurship.

Keywords: Informality; social network capital; sharing norms; kinship and ethnic ties; family labour; household business; panel; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D13 D61 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 44 pages
Date: 2017-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ent, nep-net, nep-sbm, nep-sea, nep-soc and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published - published in: Journal of Development Studies, 2018, 54 (4), 594 - 618

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Related works:
Journal Article: Household Entrepreneurship and Social Networks: Panel Data Evidence from Vietnam (2018)
Working Paper: Household Entrepreneurship and Social Networks: Panel Data Evidence from Vietnam (2018)
Working Paper: Household Entrepreneurship and Social Networks: Panel Data Evidence from Vietnam (2017)
Working Paper: Household entrepreneurship and social networks:panel data evidence from Vietnam (2014)
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