CHANGING TRENDS IN CITIZENS' PERCEPTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY IN VIETNAM: AN ANALYSIS OF PAPI DATA, 2011-2024

Nguyen Thanh Son; Nguyen Trong Binh Hanh; Nguyen Thi Hanh Hanh

Nguyen Thanh Son Nam Can Tho University
Nguyen Trong Binh Hanh Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6009-4983
Nguyen Thi Hanh Hanh Hanoi National University of Education https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7534-9270

Аннотация

This paper examines long-term trends in citizens' perception of local government accountability in Vietnam from 2011 to 2024, drawing on panel data from the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI). Using 63 provinces as the units of analysis, it explores the national trajectory of perceived accountability, regional disparities, and the roles of transparency and citizen participation in shaping accountability outcomes. Findings reveal a nonlinear pattern: improvement between 2011 and 2014, decline from 2015 to 2018 and stabilisation at lower levels after 2019. Transparency emerges as the strongest predictor of perceived accountability among the factors examined, while citizen participation contributes modestly unless supported by open information channels. The study adopts a mixed descriptive and fixed-effects panel data approach and identifies regional convergence over time, with persistent advantages in the Red River Delta and Southeast. Conceptually, it highlights a hybrid model of accountability within a single-party system, in which transparency and social feedback complement administrative oversight. These insights contribute to comparative governance scholarship and inform strategies to strengthen citizen-based accountability in transitional contexts.

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Биографии авторов

Nguyen Thanh Son, Nam Can Tho University

Dr., The Commission for Information and Education of the Can Tho City Party Committee

Nguyen Trong Binh Hanh, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

Dr., Associate Professor; Regional Political Academy IV

Nguyen Thi Hanh Hanh, Hanoi National University of Education

Dr.

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