Education and agricultural household income: Comparative evidence from Vietnam and Thailand

Abstract

Understanding the benefits of education is vital in formulating policy priorities, especially in developing countries. Without realizing how education affects income, the importance of education can be undervalued. This study investigates the impact of education on agricultural household income in Thailand and Vietnam by examining the Thailand Vietnam Socio-Economic Panel (TVSEP) dataset, which contains data on three provinces in each country. The random effects regression model is used to analyze the data. The findings show a positive correlation between education and income from crops and livestock and a negative correlation between education and income from both natural resource extraction and agricultural diversification. Additionally, heterogeneity in the influence of education on agricultural income across genders and ethnic groups is revealed. Even though Vietnam and Thailand are two of the largest rice exporters, being developing countries with limited farming technologies means that implications for relevant policy development are significant. Given the impact of education on the livelihood of farmers, investments in their education should be strongly encouraged to enhance their future agricultural income.