In this comparative study, we chose Hertfordshire in UK and Hung Yen in Vietnam, two provinces nearby the capitals of those countries respectively. These provinces have similar geographic characteristics and types of business structure. The study explores the constraints of business productivity. | VNU Journal of Science Economics and Business Vol. 36 No. 5E 2020 31-49 Original Article Exploring Constraints of Business Productivity in a Province Nearby the Country Capital The Case of the UK and Vietnam Christopher Brown1 Nguyen Thuc Huong Giang2 Tran Thi Huong2 1 University of Hertfordshire Hatfield Hertfordshire United Kingdom 2 Hanoi University of Science and Technology No. 1 Dai Co Viet Hai Ba Trung Dist. Hanoi Vietnam Received 27 November 2019 Revised 20 December 2020 Accepted 20 December 2020 Abstract In the digital era the socio-economic and technological environment is changing continuously. Business productivity is becoming a more and more significant issue in the economy and it is essential to find out what motivates and limits productivity. The inequality in economic development of different provinces in each country is getting higher priority of government in both developed and developing countries. In this comparative study we chose Hertfordshire in UK and Hung Yen in Vietnam two provinces nearby the capitals of those countries respectively. These provinces have similar geographic characteristics and types of business structure. The study explores the constraints of business productivity. Hung Yen one of Hanoi s nearby provinces enjoys spillover benefits from the capital city s development. However Hung Yen has to face many challenges from its geographical location and a shortage of high-quality human resources people who tend to work and develop their careers in the capital . The same as Hung Yen in the UK Hertfordshire is a county adjacent to London and suffers the same challenges related to graduate skills mobility and productivity gaps in the STEM skilled sectors. The correlation in business development issues between Hertfordshire and London is similar to the one between Hung Yen and Hanoi in growth hard-to-fill skills vacancies and productivity. In recent years Hertfordshire has had numerous achievements in economic development and improved
