2005
Research Team: Tomomi Tanaka, Quang Nguyen, Huynh Truong Huy, Bui Thanh Sang, Nguyen The Du, Ngo Nguyen Thanh Tam, Pham Thanh Xuan, Nguyen Minh Duc, Tran Quang Trung, and Tran Tat Nhat

The team and a village official in Thai Binh Province

We conducted experiments in Vietnamese villages to investigate how wealth, political history, occupation, and other demographic variables (from a household survey) are correlated with risk, time discounting and trust.

This is how we conducted experiments.

(1) An experimenter reads the instruction.

(2) Subjects solve quiz. Illiterate subjects are helped by research assistants.

(3) After solving the quiz, subjects go out of the room and draw numbered balls from a bingo cage, which determines their roles (Player 1 or Player 2) in Trust Game. They receive instructions and record sheets.

(4) Subjects are helped by research assistants when making decisions.

2006
Research Team: Tomomi Tanaka, Huynh Truong Huy, Truong Thi Thuy Hang, Ngo Nguyen Thanh Tam, Tran Thai, Tran Binh, Pham Thanh Xuan, Lieu Thanh, Kim Chung, Danh Na Ret, Vo Chi Thanh, Chau Lam, Thi Cam Tu, Nguyen The Du, and Nguyen Minh Duc.

We conducted experiments with ethnic Vietnamese, Chinese and Khmer villagers to study how socioeconomic status, i.e., ethnicity and income, affect behaviors in bargaining, coalition, trust and altruism.

This is how we conducted experiments.

(1) A Vietnamese expetimenter reads the instruction in Vietnamese.

(2) A Khmer expetimenter reads the instruction in Khmer.

(3) Subjects are helped by research assistants when making decisions.

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We have received tremendous supports from Can Tho University, Hanoi Agricultural University and local government officials during the projects. Special thanks go to Huy (Lecturer at Can Tho University, and Experimenter in the 2005 Project) and Tam (Student Assistant Leader) for all the assistance and suggestions they've given us in designing and conducting experiments in the field.

Huy and Tam preparing for experiments

More Photos

At Thanh's house in Bac Lieu Province.

At a Khmer temple in Kien Giang Province. Ret (far left) was a monk at this temple before he started studying at Can Tho Univ.

Khmer student subjects with research assistants after they received experimental payments in a pilot at Can Tho University. Khmer students are predominantly from poor rural areas, living on a fairly small amount of scholarship. So modest experimental payments go a long way.

Going to a remote village by boat.