Regional Development in the Lao PDR

This study on Laos is part of a series of annual studies, undertaken by various Swedish universities and academic research institutes in collaboration with Sida. The main purpose of these studies is to enhance our knowledge and understanding of current economic development processes and challenges in Sweden's main partner countries for development co-operation. It is also hoped that they will have a broader academic interest and that the collaboration will serve to strengthen the Swedish academic resource base in the field of development economics. This report has been prepared by Magnus Andersson, Anders Engvall and Ari Kokko at the Stockholm School of Asian Studies at Stockholm School of Economics. It analyses the regional dynamics of economic development and poverty reduction in Lao PDR against the backdrop of domestic and international market integration, drawing on comprehensive primary data from the Lao Expenditure and Consumption Surveys.