Vietnam Finance Society (VFS), Columbia University’s Southeast Asian Student Initiative (SEASI) and New York Southeast Asian Network (NYSEAN) are proud to bring together two leading scholars on Vietnam – Dr. Edmund Malesky of Duke University and Dr. Anh Tran of Indiana University Bloomington in an event – A dialogue on Vietnam’s Economic Development.
As macro uncertainties abound and tensions between the US and China show no signs of abating, Vietnam's attractiveness as a manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia has increased, and so do foreign investors' interests in everything from greenfield FDI, privatization of state assets, private equity investment to venture capital. Will this trend of increased foreign investment and strong, sustainable growth continue in light of US-China trade tensions and potential global economic downturn? Is Vietnam structurally and politically prepared for this new wave of private wealth and investor interest? Dr. Malesky and Dr. Tran are among a handful of U.S.-based scholars who have done extensive research and seen the ebb and flow of the Vietnam story. Join us for an open dialogue about the state of Vietnam’s economy and market, as we bridge the gap between Vietnam and the United States.
Dr. Edmund Malesky is Professor of Political Economy at Duke University and is a noted specialist in economic development, authoritarian institutions, and comparative political economy in Vietnam. One of Dr. Malesky’s work is on Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index, which is sponsored by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (VCCI) and US Agency for International Development (USAID). In 2013, Dr. Malesky was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Board of the Vietnam Education Foundation. He has published extensively in the leading political science and economic journals and has received various awards, including the Harvard Academy Fellowship and the Rockefeller Bellagio Residency Fellowship.
Dr. Tran Ngoc Anh is a Professor at Indiana University and a Member of the Economic Advisory Board for the Prime Minister of Vietnam. He directs Vietnam Initiative, which is a global think tank on Vietnam’s development. He also manages the Strategic Leadership Development Program, which selects and brings outstanding senior government officials to the US for advanced training. Dr. Tran’s research focuses on the development and governance of developing countries, particularly in Asia. He also works frequently as a consultant for reform initiatives by national governments, the United Nations and the World Bank. Dr. Tran received his Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard University.