Nhat Bach Ho, Dut Van Vo and Chris Rowley
The study estimates the willingness to pay for organic oranges and identifies its influencing factors among consumers in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
Abstract
Purpose
The study estimates the willingness to pay for organic oranges and identifies its influencing factors among consumers in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used survey data from 413 households in the Mekong Delta from March 2022 to July 2022. The choice experiment (CE) and contingent valuation method (CVM) were employed to analyze consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). STATA 17 software was used to analyze research data in the logit model and mixed logit model.
Findings
The research results from the CVM approach show that a number of demographic characteristics have a direct impact on WTP, such as education, educational attainment, family size, the presence of children and the elderly in the household, food safety and environmental awareness. The CE model shows product attributes that influence consumers’ WTP, such as country of origin, traceability, quality grade, organic certification, ecolabel and organic content. Both approaches show that price is the main barrier to organic orange consumption.
Research limitations/implications
The study surveyed four large cities in four provinces representing the Mekong Delta region.
Practical implications
Our study helps administrators have a deeper insight into consumer preferences and behavior, specifically the factors that affect consumers' WTP, an important indicator of demand for the success of manufacturers and marketers in developing as well as improving marketing strategies. Knowledge of a product’s WTP on behalf of (potential) customers plays an important role in many areas of marketing management, such as pricing decisions or new product development.
Social implications
Furthermore, this understanding will inform policymakers about the future of agricultural markets in Vietnam and help them better prepare for the making of sustainable agricultural policies. Develop organic agriculture to both protect human health, protect the living environment and protect the soil from degradation, ensuring sustainable agricultural production. This is also one of the measures to help people stay away from diseases to limit the social burden.
Originality/value
The study confirms that both CVM and CE models can be used to estimate WTP. However, CVM fits the overall WTP estimate, while CE is more appropriate when estimating WTP for individual scenarios through combining attributes with different levels.
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Huong Lan Thi Huynh, Anh Tien Do and Trang Minh Dao
The city of Can Tho, located on Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, has been identified as one of the nation’s most vulnerable sites for adverse climate change-induced impacts. Can Tho’s…
Abstract
Purpose
The city of Can Tho, located on Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, has been identified as one of the nation’s most vulnerable sites for adverse climate change-induced impacts. Can Tho’s policymakers are faced with tackling these challenges but lack the necessary tools and funds to properly address the situation. The study aims to develop a set of indicators to assess the degree of climate change vulnerability so that policymakers can determine which of Can Tho’s districts are most in need of attention, and then propose the best options for climate change adaptation activities.
Design/methodology/approach
The indicators, including quantifications of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, were categorized in three tiers, from 1 to 3, to reflect their importance with regard to the situation. The higher tier indicators comprised a number of lower tier indicators, which were developed based on real-life, practical situations at the local level.
Findings
The results showed that the Thoi Lai District, with a vulnerability indicator estimated at 0.59, is more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than other districts because of its lower adaptive capacity and higher sensitivity. In contrast, Ninh Kieu District’s climate change indicator of 0.24 demonstrates it has higher resilience to climate change impacts.
Originality/value
This study showed that the set of indicators developed provides a promising approach for supporting local policymakers in Can Tho to actively respond to climate change-related challenges, and that this approach has the potential to be upscaled for other cities in Vietnam.
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Ornanong Puarattanaarunkorn, Kittawit Autchariyapanitkul and Teera Kiatmanaroch
Unlimited quantitative easing (QE) is one of the monetary policies used to stimulate the economy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This policy has affected…
Abstract
Purpose
Unlimited quantitative easing (QE) is one of the monetary policies used to stimulate the economy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This policy has affected the financial markets worldwide. This empirical research aims at studying the dependence among stock markets before and after unlimited QE announcements.
Design/methodology/approach
The copula-based GARCH (1,1) and minimum spanning tree models are used in this study to analyze 14 series of stock market data, on 6 ASEAN and 8 other countries outside the region. The data are divided into two periods to compare the differences in dependence.
Findings
The findings show changes in dependence among the volatility of daily returns in 14 stock markets during each period. After the unlimited QE announcement, the upper tail dependence became more apparent, while the role of the lower tail dependence was reduced. The minimum spanning tree can show the close relationships between stock markets, indicating changes in the connection network after the announcement.
Originality/value
This study allows the dependency to be compared between stock market volatility before and after the announcement of unlimited QE during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the study fills the literature gap by combining the copula-based GARCH and the minimum spanning tree models to analyze and reveal the systemic network of the relationships.
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Tran Thai Ha Nguyen, Gia Quyen Phan, Wing-Keung Wong and Massoud Moslehpour
This research examines the relationship between market power and liquidity creation in the specific context of bank profitability in the Vietnamese banking sector.
Abstract
Purpose
This research examines the relationship between market power and liquidity creation in the specific context of bank profitability in the Vietnamese banking sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies the methodology proposed by Berger and Bouwman (2009) to demonstrate the creation of bank liquidity through a three-step procedure for investigating the relationship between market power and liquidity creation. The three steps include non-fat liquidity (NFLC), fat liquidity (FLC) and system generalized method of moments estimation for panel data.
Findings
This study finds that liquidity creation increases when a bank has high market power. Further, highly profitable banks positively impact the market power of banks with regard to liquidity creation, relative to less profitable banks. Moreover, bank size, capital, economic growth and interest rate negatively influence bank liquidity creation, while credit risk positively relates to bank liquidity creation.
Research limitations/implications
Measurements used in this study are based on the works of Berger and Bouwman (2009). There are specific variations, relative to Basel III. In addition, other variables significantly impact bank liquidity creation that have not been considered in the models, and a quadratic model should have been considered to measure market power and bank liquidity creation.
Practical implications
This study suggests that managers should control the liquidity of their banks by supervising vulnerable characteristics that have been mentioned herein and emphasizing improvements in profitability. Further, the government may consider encouraging banks to generate more liquidity by modifying regulations concerned with market power or reinforcing policies about improving the transparent business environment.
Originality/value
This study characterizes an attempt to examine the influence of market power on the liquidity creation of banks in Vietnam, which represents one of the most dynamic systems in Asia, with several varied participating banks. The current study also examines the same within the specific context of the modifying impact of the profitability of banks.
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Binh Tran-Nam, Cuong Le-Van, Van Pham-Hoang and Thai-Ha Le
Ayuba Napari, Asad Ul Islam Khan, Muhittin Kaplan and Hasan Vergil
Owing to the growing evidence of crypto asset connectedness and correlation with traditional financial assets, this study sought to determine if there is a time-varying…
Abstract
Purpose
Owing to the growing evidence of crypto asset connectedness and correlation with traditional financial assets, this study sought to determine if there is a time-varying correlation and/or connectedness between the stablecoin market and the currencies of emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) with significant cryptocurrency penetration.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a probabilistic principal component analysis (PPCA) to create stablecoin and EMDEs currency returns and volatility indices for EMDEs with significant cryptocurrency penetration. We then employ a time-varying correlation and time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) connectedness measures to document the time-dependent correlation and connectedness between the EMDE currencies and the stablecoin market.
Findings
The result points to a spillover of return shocks from the EMDE currencies to the stablecoin market prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is indicative of a flight-to-safety role of stablecoins for EMDE currencies. This calls for increased attention to the stablecoin market by money market investors and monetary authorities.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the growing cryptocurrency and finance literature by empirically examining the level of connectedness between stablecoins and emerging market currencies. Knowing the relationship (correlation) and shock spillover (connectedness) between the stablecoins and the EMDE currencies will be valuable to currency investors’ diversification and hedging strategies, and to macroeconomic policymakers in designing and implementing regulation.
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Nguyen Minh Quang, Nozomi Kawarazuka, Thien Ngoc Nguyen-Pham, Thu Hoai Nguyen, Hieu Minh Le, Tho Thi Minh Tran and Thoa Thi Ngoc Huynh
Recognition that not every climate adaptation policy is a good one has shifted attention to new tools and methods to measure the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation policies…
Abstract
Purpose
Recognition that not every climate adaptation policy is a good one has shifted attention to new tools and methods to measure the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation policies. This study aims to propose and apply and applies an innovative adaptation policy assessment framework to identify the extent to which climate adaptation policies in Vietnam exhibit conditions that are likely to ensure a sufficient, credible and effective adaptation.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 21 conditions, categorized under five normative principles and covering critical issue areas in adaptation domain, form the climate adaptation policy assessment framework. The principles were double-checked and tested in case studies through observations and analyses of policy documents to ensure that each condition should be distinct and not overlapping across principles. To see if the principles and attendant conditions were able to capture all relevant aspects of adaptation, the authors used structured expert judgment. In total, 39 policy documents pertaining to climate change adaptation were selected for qualitative document analysis. In-depth interviews with local officials and experts were conducted to address data gaps.
Findings
The study reveals major weaknesses constituting a reasonably worrisome picture of the adaptation policies in Vietnam since several critical conditions were underrepresented. These results shed new light on why some adaptation policies falter or are posing adverse impacts. The findings suggest that a sound policy assessment framework can provide evidence on what effective adaptation policy looks like and how it can be enabled. The framework for climate adaptation policy assessment in this study can be easily adjusted and used for different socio-environmental contexts in which new conditions for policy assessment might emerge.
Social implications
The findings show underlying weaknesses constituting a reasonably worrisome picture of the adaptation regime in Vietnam. In the absence of mechanisms and measures for accountability and transparency in policy processes, adaptation in Vietnam appears more likely to be prone to maladaptation and corruption. While solving these problems will not be easy for Vietnam, the government needs to evaluate whether the short-term gains in sustaining the existing adaptation policies really make progress and serve its long-term climate-adaptive development goals.
Originality/value
Although interpretations of adaptation effectiveness may be very divergent in different normative views on adaptation outcomes, the authors argue that a common, agreed-upon effectiveness can be reached if it is clearly defined and measurable in adaptation policies. Thus, the climate adaptation policy assessment framework proposed in this study is critical for policymakers, practitioners, donors and stakeholders dealing with adaptation to better understand the weaknesses in policymaking processes, pinpoint priority areas of action and timely prevent or prepare for possible adverse impacts of policies.
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Chukiat Siriwong, Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp, Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp and Vikas Kumar
This study aims to examine the role of mindful consumption in promoting rural sustainability, particularly in the context of tourism in Muang Kaen Community, Chiang Mai, Thailand…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the role of mindful consumption in promoting rural sustainability, particularly in the context of tourism in Muang Kaen Community, Chiang Mai, Thailand, by establishing a robust circular economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected through in-depth interviews with 28 informants who are tourism stakeholders regarding sustainable development, i.e. government officers, business owners, community leaders and community members in Muang Kaen, to achieve the data triangulation. A thematic analysis of the interview data was employed in this data set.
Findings
The findings demonstrate three key themes for driving sustainable community development: a sense of community, leadership and embodiment. At an individual level, local community members co-create a sense of community through Thainess, which gradually forms the social commitment to caring for neighbors, the community, and the environment. Carefulness also relates to another theme, “leadership” – social capital, which drives mindful behavior among the community members. Both situational and official leaders are key persons in forming a culture of sustainability within the community. Finally, the community can achieve sustainable goals by driving from the individual to the collective level through the embodiment.
Research limitations/implications
This single-case study warrants further examination across different communities to generalize the findings to broader circumstances.
Originality/value
This study has shed light on how rural tourism can drive sustainable development through a circular economy and mindful consumption.
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This paper aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students' employability skills and give insights into preparation for future crises that may…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students' employability skills and give insights into preparation for future crises that may happen.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing an interpretative phenomenological approach with the frame of social cognitive theory, the current study examined the changes in environmental, behavioral and personal elements of human functioning for employability skills being affected by the conditions during the pandemic.
Findings
Findings based on ten in-depth semi-structured interviews with students at universities in Vietnam highlighted that the global pandemic performed as both challenge and an opportunity for employability skills development, yet the extent to which the students can benefit from the new studying conditions attributed to each individual's initiatives in taking advantages of resources and acting against difficulties.
Originality/value
Whether the pandemic became a hindrance or a motivation for students' employability skills to develop and whether students effectively utilized an agency to overcome challenges and improved their skills after the pandemic have not yet been investigated. This study added to the body of literature regarding self-regulated learners by demonstrating agency in the learning process as well as how to manage careers and improve employability skills by making use of resources in disconnected settings.
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Natthapong Chuchottaworn and Pairoj Raothanachonkun
This paper seeks to evaluate the factors that contribute to congestion at port entrances, propose a comprehensive approach to managing port gates that addresses the factors…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to evaluate the factors that contribute to congestion at port entrances, propose a comprehensive approach to managing port gates that addresses the factors causing traffic jams and assess the outcomes of resolving the issue through an optimal model for incoming container truck traffic.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed a one-way ANOVA and a one-way MANOVA to examine the impact of congestion-causing factors on the waiting time of trucks in each lane at the entrance gate. The purpose of this was to comprehend the intricate issue and demonstrate the outcomes of the resolution. We used the identified factors that were causing congestion to develop a management strategy for the port gate. As part of this strategy, we implemented a policy where traffic flows in the opposite direction in certain lanes. The Simulation of Urban Mobility program introduced the microscopic traffic simulation model as a discrete event simulation.
Findings
The examination of variables influencing the congestion at the port entrance revealed that there were four factors contributing to the congestion: (1) the quantity of lanes; (2) the level of bookings; (3) the factors related to the traffic signal cycle and (4) the assignment of lane types. The one-way MANOVA analysis of the three factors yielded significant evidence for a single pair of interactions. (1) The factors to consider are the quantity of lanes, the level of booking and the assignment of lane types. If the entrance to the rear alley consists of two lanes with a width of 1.85 at the 50% capacity level, and if the critical value of the uneven queue coefficient is reached, it can result in a maximum reduction of the average waiting time by 15.02%.
Originality/value
This study is unique because it examines the surrounding environment and operational behavior of the port to identify how individual and group congestion factors interact. It uses various statistical tools to determine the allocation of the number of port entrances with a reversible lane policy and appointment level. Additionally, it analyzes the detailed results using microscopic traffic simulation modeling. The established foundational model can assist operators in simulating the queue length and mean waiting time of trucks for this specific waiting line in other ports with comparable entrance characteristics.