The Impact of Income Growth and Provision of Health-Care Services on Child Nutrition in Vietnam

Vietnam enjoyed rapid economic growth and a sharp reduction in child stunting in the 1990s. Economic growth can increase children's nutritional status in two ways. First, by raising household incomes, which can be used it to purchase more food, medicine and medical services. Second, by raising government revenue, which can be used to improve publicly provided medical services. This paper estimates the impact of household per capita expenditures on children's nutritional status. All the estimation methods used indicate that household income growth explains at best only part of the decrease in child stunting. The paper also examines what aspects of public and private medical services improveme child health.