Does pink tax exist in Vietnamese hygienic industry?

Project by Polygence alum Ngân Giang

Does pink tax exist in Vietnamese hygienic industry?

Project's result

Thanks to the support from John, I could create a full paper, broaden my horizon, enhance my english competence, and fuel my passion for digging deeper into the economics.

They started it from zero. Are you ready to level up with us?

Summary

The concept of "Pink Tax" posits that products intended for females cost more compared to their male counterparts, despite serving the same function. This phenomenon has gained prevalence in countries like the US and UK, but whether it exists in Vietnam is still unknown. Therefore, this study investigates the presence of Pink Tax in hygienic products in Hanoi, Vietnam, aiming to raise awareness and propose policy recommendations to alleviate its impact if it exists. Through a quantitative approach, we analyze price differentials between male and female versions of essential hygienic products (shampoo, deodorant, facial cleanser). Data collected from three prominent supermarkets reveal that female-targeted products generally carry higher average prices than male equivalents, though facial cleansers exhibit an opposite trend. Calculations also show that females spend a higher percentage of their average salary on these products compared to males. Limitations include a small sample size and the exclusion of lesser-known brands, impacting generalization. Despite these, findings suggest a need for regulatory measures and transparency in pricing to mitigate gender-based price discrimination in Vietnam's consumer market.

John

John

Polygence mentor

PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate

Subjects

Medicine, Business, Quantitative

Expertise

Economics of the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industries; Drug Pricing; Competition studies in Healthcare Markets; Determinants of Health; Theory of Healthcare and Health; Entrepreneurship/Business

Ngân Giang

Ngân Giang

Student

Hi! I'm Giang and my Polygence project is on pink tax in hygienic products in Vietnam. I chose to work on this project because there is a paucity of research on this topic.

Graduation Year

2025

Project review

“Initially, I was extremely nervous and in low esteem; however, thanks to my mentor's support, I could gain more confidence and finish my research. During the process, I not only received advice from my mentor but also from Polygence's support team. They gave feedback to my full paper and helped me in every aspect.”

About my mentor

“After half of the sessions, I turned to a completely different type of research, which means we have to get rid of all of our prior work, but John did not show any disagreements, or nonchalance, instead, he gave me numerous advice and tips to collect and analyze data. Overall, John is really kind, helpful, sympathetic and knowledgeable. At first, he was quite reserved, but in some final sessions, he even shared his life in university with me.”