Extent of Reference to Science and the Efficacy of Coastal Management Policies: Insights from the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Despite being a vital input for the development of environmental policy, scientific research findings are rarely used in evaluating policy efficacy regionally and globally. We used extent of reference to science as a measure for evaluating the efficacy of policies directed at addressing environmental problems facing the Vietnamese Mekong coast. The evaluation was undertaken using a critical review of the literature from two data sources: Web of Science and the Vietnam Portal, along with field investigation. The results show that the policies to date make little reference to existing scientific knowledge during the policy-making process. Consequently, they have not adequately addressed the real problems facing the Vietnamese Mekong coast. The coastal protection is also threatened by delay in the revision of current policies or development of new and more effective policies in response to environmental problems and emerging scientific knowledge. Our methodology in examining the amount of scientific input provides a new and useful measure for investigating policy efficacy.