The Differential Impact of the Vietnamese Economic Stimulus Package on Women and Men

The 2008-2009 financial crisis caused a global economic recession. In response Vietnam, along with many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, implemented an economic stimulus package (ESP). This paper considers the gender implications of such stimulus packages to improve eventual outcomes, not just in terms of rights but also in terms of economic efficiency and productivity. We look, firstly, at how financial crises – and government responses – have different consequences for men and women because many industries in developing countries are sex-stereotyped so that women dominate the workforces of textiles, garments and electronics, while men dominate the construction workforce.

The 1997-1998 Asian Financial Crisis provided lessons for responding to future economic crises with an argument for gender-responsive planning and budgeting to ensure that both sexes will benefit substantially from the use of public resources.