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The structures that control epidemics are the same ones that control public expressions of dissent,” they write.
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Hundreds of people have been fined for causing “unnecessary panic” or undermining the “national unifying cause” through their social media posts, Global Voices reports.
The big picture: Like China, Vietnam has since the late 1980s paired political repression with economic liberalization.
The pandemic has punctured most other formerly fast-growing economies in the developing world, but not Vietnam’s.
- Vietnam has had some luck, says Jacques Morisset, the World Bank’s Program Leader for Vietnam. Demand for its chief commodity export, rice, has only grown during the pandemic.
- The government also started from a strong position — in sound fiscal health and with emergency funds ready to be tapped.
- When the pandemic struck, it acted “with a combination of foresight and pragmatism” and “no sense of panic,” says Morriset.
Where things stand: Vietnam’s economy is benefiting on at least two fronts: it was one of the first in the world to re-open with few restrictions, and it was already enjoying a flood of investment as companies like Apple shifted manufacturing to hedge against over-reliance on China.
- Vietnam is also expediting some major infrastructure projects as part of its coronavirus stimulus, the FT reports.
- One sector that has been hit is tourism, which accounts for 9% of GDP. The government plans to resume flights soon, but only for countries that have had no new cases for 30 days.
The bottom line: This pandemic’s success stories include authoritarian states like Vietnam as well as democracies like Australia, Germany and South Korea.
They’re aligned not by style of governance but early, competent action — and a bit of luck.