Learning to be Capitalists: Entrepreneurs in Vietnam's Transition Economy
"Vietnam has experienced remarkably high rates of private sector growth despite a lack of formal market-supporting institutions. This makes the study of entrepreneurship especially interesting in Vietnam, a task undertaken byLearning to Be Capitalistsin a fascinating and intriguing way."--EconomicDevelopment and Cultural Change"This is an excellent study of a very important socio-economic phenomenon that for a long time has been waiting for its author: the rocket-like economic growth of Vietnam since about a decade. Responding to the call by economists such as Douglass North, the author suggests that cognition--more precisely, social cognition--plays a key role in explaining why countries that are poor can turn around and become economically successful. The reader will not only enjoy the elegant argument but also the fine ethnographic case study of entrepreneurs, active in the real estate industry in Ho Chi Minh City."--Richard Swedberg, Cornell University"Learning to be Capitalistsexplores the role of social cognition in the process of development. This is a thought-provoking work on a cutting edge issue in institutional analysis, economic development and sociology. It provides important insights into the processes of development and transition."--Avner Greif, The Bowman Family Professor in Humanities and Sciences, Department of Economics, Stanford University"Entrepreneurship is a pillar of market economy. Kim's book is an original study of how entrepreneurs emerged and responded to market opportunities in the process of transition from Vietnam's socialist planning economy to a market economy."--Justin Lin, Chief Economist, World Bank"This research was from a case study of HCMC's Real Estate Market establishment and penetrated into Vietnam's economic situation. I was so surprised with Annette Kim's careful interview technique and large amount of field work The book is useful for policymakers and economic researchers due to the practical information and the theories that it contains."--Ton Gia Huyen, former Director, Vietnam General Department of Land Administration"Annette Kim has produced a fascinating study of how entrepreneurs really operated in the complex economy and polity of Vietnam during its transition from a centrally planned to a market economy.  Her results, based on close personal observation over a long period, will be of interest not only to those interested in Vietnam or the industry she studies (real estate), but to anyone interested in how entrepreneurs could still thrive despite being in a world with few formal rules enforceable by an established legal system."--Dwight H. Perkins, Harvard University"Private entrepreneurship takes off exponentially in a socialist economy with weak institutions and fragile legal order. This is a story that would qualify for most economists as a fairy tale. Yet it is Vietnam's reality. Annette Kim helps us make sense of this reality through close observation of how Vietnamese entrepreneurs operate and navigate their choppy waters."--Dani Rodrik, Harvard University