The Economic Efficiency of Improving Child Protection Legislation in Vietnam

This article examines the economic efficiency of strengthening child protection laws in Vietnam during 2020–2025. In this period, Vietnam implemented significant legal reforms aimed at preventing child abuse – including a National Assembly resolution and action plan (2020) and new legislation such as the Law on Justice for Minors (2024) – against a backdrop of persistent child abuse cases and rising public concern. We review these legal developments and analyze their impact using an interdisciplinary approach that combines legal/policy analysis with economic assessment. Drawing on data from Vietnam and comparative cases (e.g. Thailand, the Philippines, and select OECD countries), we identify key economic indicators that quantify the costs of child abuse (healthcare expenditures, social services, lost productivity, etc.) and estimate the potential benefits of enhanced legal protections. We find that violence against children imposes substantial economic burdens (on the order of 2–3% of GDP in the East Asia–Pacific region), while preventive legal measures – though requiring upfront investment – yield high cost-benefit returns by averting long-term harm. The analysis includes a cost-effectiveness discussion of child protection interventions and a comparative perspective highlighting how similar socio-economic contexts have addressed child abuse. The findings suggest that improving child protection legislation in Vietnam is not only a moral and legal imperative but also an economically efficient strategy that can produce net positive social returns. Policy recommendations are offered to strengthen enforcement, integrate economic considerations into child welfare policymaking, and sustain the reforms’ momentum.