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Promoting smart cities in developing countries: Policy insights from Vietnam

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  • Vu, Khuong
  • Hartley, Kris

Abstract

Smart city initiatives have been researched primarily in the developed country context. In developing countries, however, emerging technologies are enabling progress on urban functionality, productivity, and livability. A deeper understanding of facilitative policy conditions unique to developing countries would be useful to both theory and practice. This study presents empirically grounded insights about the policy implications of smart city development in developing countries, based on surveys of experts from the public and private sectors in 10 Vietnam cities. The study makes three contributions. First, it provides new evidence that pursuing smart city development (SCD) is not a mere alternative but a crucial strategic imperative. While facing persistent problems, Vietnam's cities exhibit significant and rapidly improving readiness for SCD. Second, the study provides new insights into related policy issues and challenges, including the positive link between e-government development and control of corruption, the risk of bias toward operational management over institutional reform, and the lack of a clear development strategy. Finally, the study proposes a model for guiding smart city initiatives in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Vu, Khuong & Hartley, Kris, 2018. "Promoting smart cities in developing countries: Policy insights from Vietnam," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(10), pages 845-859.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:42:y:2018:i:10:p:845-859
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2017.10.005
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    2. Wang, Mengmeng & Zhou, Tao & Wang, Di, 2020. "Tracking the evolution processes of smart cities in China by assessing performance and efficiency," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    3. Khan, Anupriya & Krishnan, Satish & Dhir, Amandeep, 2021. "Electronic government and corruption: Systematic literature review, framework, and agenda for future research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Dezhi Li & Wentao Wang & Guanying Huang & Shenghua Zhou & Shiyao Zhu & Haibo Feng, 2023. "How to Enhance Citizens’ Sense of Gain in Smart Cities? A SWOT-AHP-TOWS Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 787-820, February.
    5. Baul Lee & Seung-Kook Park, 2022. "A Study on the Competitiveness for the Diffusion of Smart Technology of Construction Industry in the Era of 4th Industrial Revolution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    6. Navidreza Alizadeh Bazrafshan & Omid Ali Kharazmi, 2022. "Contextual challenges of smart city implementation in Mashhad, Iran's second‐largest metropolis," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(5), September.
    7. Miguel Manjon & Zineb Aouni & Nathalie Crutzen, 2022. "Green and digital entrepreneurship in smart cities," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(2), pages 429-462, April.
    8. Fromhold-Eisebith, Martina & Eisebith, Günter, 2019. "What can Smart City policies in emerging economies actually achieve? Conceptual considerations and empirical insights from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Huma H. Khan & Muhammad N. Malik & Raheel Zafar & Feybi A. Goni & Abdoulmohammad G. Chofreh & Jiří J. Klemeš & Youseef Alotaibi, 2020. "Challenges for sustainable smart city development: A conceptual framework," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1507-1518, September.
    10. Si Ying Tan & Araz Taeihagh, 2020. "Smart City Governance in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-29, January.
    11. Forge, Simon & Vu, Khuong, 2020. "Forming a 5G strategy for developing countries: A note for policy makers," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(7).
    12. Kris Hartley, 2023. "Public Perceptions About Smart Cities: Governance and Quality-of-Life in Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 731-753, April.

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