Sustainable urbanization in Vietnam.

"This paper examines the nature of [urban-based economic growth in Vietnam] and contends that the present size of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are much greater than official figures suggest. It then goes on to review the situation with regard to urban poverty, basic needs and the environment to illustrate the extent to which this unacknowledged growth is not only threatening the sustained expansion of those cities, but also the sustainability of the economic growth on which the country is so reliant."

Shaping the nation state: ethnicity, class and the new population policy in Singapore.

"This paper explores the relationships between ethnicity, class and the New Population Policy (NPP) in Singapore in the context of its nation state project.... The paper uses data from a sample of the Singaporean population to investigate the impact of the NPP on both ethnic and income (class) groups in order to assess the importance of the ethnic dimension in this aspect of Singapore's development strategy. It concludes that, although differences in fertility behaviour may be rooted in ethnic identity, the control that the government wishes to exert over that behaviour as part of its nation-building project has largely been effected through class interests, and may be better interpreted as part of a broader strategy of human resource management which is attracting the attention of other Asian newly industrialising countries."

Singapore: reversing the demographic transition to meet labour needs.

PIP: Post-independence population policy in Singapore from 1965 encouraged couples to bear a maximum of two children. From 1987, however, population policy has been in place which is designed to reverse the demographic transition to low birth rates. Instead of encouraging replacement fertility, the government is now urging couples to bear three or more children if they can afford it. The new policy even attempts to enhance the quality of the workforce by offering incentives to encourage larger families among the more educated Singaporeans. This paper explains why and how such a policy change has occurred. While there are many diverse explanations, the driving force behind the new policy has been economic. Major efforts by the government of Singapore to restructure its economy have underpinned the new measures to encourage larger families due to perceived labor demands in the future. The impact of Singapore's latest population policy needs to be evaluated. Economic restructuring in Singapore, population policies in Singapore from 1965, the impact of the new policies, the impact of former policy, knowledge and perceptions about the most recent policy, evaluating the response of the new policy, and the broader perspective are discussed.^ieng

The changing economic role of women in the urbanization process: a preliminary report from Zimbabwe.

PIP: This article reports the findings of a survey, conducted to collect information on the present economic situation of women and the constraints they face in the choice of work in Zimbabwe, which has recently witnessed a steady growth in its urbanization. Questionnaires were administered to women in 3 district areas of the city of Harare--a middle class suburb within easy commuting distance to the main white collar employment in the city, a low income area of site-and-service housing in the semiperiphery of the city, and a densely populated, lower income, inner city district. There are clear contrasts among the economic activities of women in the 3 areas studied, but the factors which influence the activities seem to vary between and within the social groups, relating somewhat uneasily to the generalized concepts on the female labor market. The occupational analysis of Harare reveals not only the inadequacy of conventional dualistic theories on the labor market, but the somewhat limited utility of westernized concepts on the domestic role of women. The survey also showed strong spatial and geographic influence on women's work and the different opportunities that arise from particular residential locations in Harare. However, this was clearly tempered by social contacts and migrational histories, especially in the inner city areas, where proximity to potential employment was not exploited by many recent migrants. Political factors too were found to play an important role, in the particular circumstance of Zimbabwe, in affecting the residential and economic opportunities for households. In the middle class suburb and low income area studied, the allocation of site and service plots or mortgages was strongly influenced by one's previous combatant status during the struggle for independence. For instance, families with such a status which could be earned by men as well as women), and who are also members of the ruling ZANU-PF party have been favored since 1980.^ieng