DOI:

Abstract

Income diversification is an important livelihood strategy of households, especially the poor and rural ones. This research employs data from Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey 2008 to identify factors that affect household income and its impacts on decisions to diversify the income by households in the Mekong Delta. Analyses show that householder's characteristics, such as age and schooling years, have positive effects on the household income. Meanwhile, households that are large and in urban areas enjoy more opportunities to improve and diversify their income than rural and small households. More importantly, diversifying the income through migration is considered as a livelihood strategy for poor households. Finally, income gaps also drive households to diversify their income by seeking jobs outside their home districts.

Keywords

Household; Estimated Income; Income Diversification.