Freeware As An Advertisement

This paper examines the situation in which a monopolist offers freeware as an advertisement to increase the demand in order to maximize profit even though the existence of such freeware will reduce the power of the monopolist in the market. We prove that the successful application of freeware is dependent on the number of potential consumers and there exists an optimal quality design for freeware in this situation.Freeware; Software; Advertisement

The transition of small-scale coffee farming systems and new pathways for coffee production: A case study in the central highlands of Vietnam

The dynamics of agriculture in general and coffee farming systems need to be investigated to derive insights for policies and interventions to promote sustainable agriculture. Through a systematic approach, including historical and adaptive ones, the study aims to probe the spatial-temporal transition of coffee farming systems. We found evidence for the diverse adaptive capacity of the coffee farming systems in Dak Lak province in their response to various factors. Moreover, an economic comparison was made between coffee farming systems, including mono-coffee farms and coffee-based intercropped ones. The study showed that coffee-based intercropped farms yield higher returns than mono-cropping ones by productivity enhancement, land equity ratio, and gross margin. These findings provided empirical evidence to design appropriate policies for the sustainable development of coffee farming

Value chain analysis, household survey and agronomic trial results in Dak Lak, Vietnam

This series Cassava Program Discussion Papers presents results of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) supported projects ASEM /2014/053 Developing cassava production and marketing systems to enhance smallholder livelihoods in Cambodia and Lao PDR and AGB/2012/078 Developing value-chain linkages to improve smallholder cassava production systems in Vietnam and Indonesi

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Tourism Firms' Survival in the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: A Case Study of Daklak Province, Vietnam

Purpose:  This paper aims to analyze the entrepreneurial situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on firms in the tourism sector. Specifically, we seek to identify factors that belong to the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (EE) of Dak Lak province, supporting entrepreneurial firms' survival during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Theoretical framework:  We applied the EE model developed by Isenberg (2011) to the province of Dak Lak, where we analyzed the effects of EE on the ability of new businesses in the community-based tourism sector to withstand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Design/methodology/approach:  We conducted a survey of 206 entrepreneurs, of whom 108 are entrepreneurs in the tourism sector or communities-based tourist destinations. These surveyed entrepreneurs participated in two startup contests the Dak Lak Province organized in 2018 and 2020.   Findings:  It was found that the COVID-19 pandemic particularly devastated small businesses in the travel and tourism sector. In addition, only two components of EE provide relief to these companies: FINANCE and CULTURE. Without a doubt, microcredit, loans, and debt refinancing funds, as well as the general liquidity of the financial market, help young businesses stay afloat. Additionally, the community's culture of risk-taking, failure acceptance, success-seeking, and lofty aspirations underpins their attempt to keep the business afloat during difficult times.   Research, Practical & Social implications:  We suggested that Dak Lak province develop its EE by upgrading its elements as soon as possible to cope with future crises.   Originality/value:  This study gives a new direction on the specific approach to improve the EE of a province of Vietnam and shows ways for better performance of the EE.   Conclusion: We found that FINANCE and CULTURE components play a positive role in assisting early-stage tourism firms. Specifically, the availability and accessibility of the financial market, including micro-credit, support entrepreneurial firms in maintaining their operation. In addition, the culture of tolerance of risks and failure, efforts for success, and high ambition is the basis for the action of entrepreneurs to continue their businesses

Experience Goods Monopolist: Freeware as an Advertisement

This study examines the situation in which a monopolist offers freeware as an advertisement for the increase of demand to maximize profit even though the existence of such freeware will reduce the power of the monopolist in the market. This study proves that the successful application of freeware is dependent on the number of potential consumers and the optimal quality design for freeware in this situation uniquely exists

Trade of Vertically Differentiated Products, Quality Improvement, and Welfare

This paper constructs a simple model to explain how trade in vertically differentiated products affects the welfare of the trading countries when product quality can be selected by firms. We specifically devise a model showing that when trade expands a market, firms will intensively invest in R&D activities to build higher quality into their goods and thus benefit the entire region. We find that trade does not increase the variety of goods but increases their cost due to their higher quality. We conclude that quality improvement is the main mechanism that helps countries gain from trade in vertically differentiated goods.This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 502.01-2019.330

Recent Evolution of Perennial Crop Farms: Evidence from Dak Lak Province, Vietnam

There is a great consensus about the crucial role of perennial crops in an agricultural economy of a country. The paper aims (1) to identify the differences in the costs and profits of perennial crops produced by two study groups, a group producing coffee (GpC) and a group producing pepper (GpP) over two crop years 2016/2017-2017/2018; (2) evaluate the evolution of the economic performance of each group during two years; and (3) examine factors influencing the farm profitability. By using the mixed data from a household survey conducted in three sub-regions of Dak Lak province, Vietnam, a financial verification is used to explore the economic incentives between two groups and a discriminant analysis is undertaken to classify the determinants of the farm profitability. The results perform that the GpC is generally lower input costs and economic benefits than the GpP. The decrease of economic indicators of the GpP during two years, meanwhile, is more significant than that of the GpC in the same period. In addition, the GpP is likely to invest more inputs, heavily use chemical cost, be more susceptible to pests and diseases, and the volatile market conditions in comparison to the GpC. Categorically, the variable cost and reduction rate in terms of valueadded, net farm income (NFI), profit, labor productivity, and the ratio of NFI to family labor of the GpC have lower than those of the GpP, respectively, during two years. Furthermore, in similarly conditional practices, the perennial crop farms generate different returns depending on experience, training, other income, and gross outputs. The findings provide information for farmers to make accurate decision about coffee and pepper farms production as recommended by reducing the quantity of fertilizers, allocating resources and diversifying crop systems. Additionally, the empirical results also offer policymakers the farms sustainable development at local and national levels. Going forward, authors suggest these factors be considered in the future

Recent Evolution of Perennial Crop Farms: Evidence from Dak Lak Province, Vietnam

There is a great consensus about the crucial role of perennial crops in an agricultural economy of a country. The paper aims (1) to identify the differences in the costs and profits of perennial crops produced by two study groups, a group producing coffee (GpC) and a group producing pepper (GpP) over two crop years 2016/2017-2017/2018; (2) evaluate the evolution of the economic performance of each group during two years; and (3) examine factors influencing the farm profitability. By using the mixed data from a household survey conducted in three sub-regions of Dak Lak province, Vietnam, a financial verification is used to explore the economic incentives between two groups and a discriminant analysis is undertaken to classify the determinants of the farm profitability. The results perform that the GpC is generally lower input costs and economic benefits than the GpP. The decrease of economic indicators of the GpP during two years, meanwhile, is more significant than that of the GpC in the same period. In addition, the GpP is likely to invest more inputs, heavily use chemical cost, be more susceptible to pests and diseases, and the volatile market conditions in comparison to the GpC. Categorically, the variable cost and reduction rate in terms of valueadded, net farm income (NFI), profit, labor productivity, and the ratio of NFI to family labor of the GpC have lower than those of the GpP, respectively, during two years. Furthermore, in similarly conditional practices, the perennial crop farms generate different returns depending on experience, training, other income, and gross outputs. The findings provide information for farmers to make accurate decision about coffee and pepper farms production as recommended by reducing the quantity of fertilizers, allocating resources and diversifying crop systems. Additionally, the empirical results also offer policymakers the farms sustainable development at local and national levels. Going forward, authors suggest these factors be considered in the future

New development in Dak Lak, Vietnam to improve sustainable development

The perennial crops are known as a capital importance in Vietnam’s Central Highlands in general and Dak Lak in particular. They are to improve income, abolishing starvation and reducing poverty, in which coffee, pepper and rubber are driving force crops. The cultivation areas, productivity and export have been increasing gradually from 1986 till now. In the recently, population explosion problem due to spontaneous migration from delta and other regions has been created a pressure for agricultural production. Additionally, production of agriculture in general and perennial crops cultivation in particular, households have been facing with many risks as climate change, unstable market and disease. Therefore, in order to reduce damage, in practiced production, farmer often carries out many effective solutions. One of all is perennial intercropping system. The study is about economic performance of coffee and pepper intercropping (CPI) in Quang Hiep commune, CuMgar district, Dak Lak province. A household survey of 50 of CPI farmers and key informants interviews were conducted in 2015 by using method of descriptive and cooperative statistics. The research findings indicated that CPI brought economic performance to farming household. Particularly, although the investment cost spent 165.7 million VND per hectare and the annual cost occupied 60.5 million VND, the gross product reached 358.4 million VND. After deducting for intermediate cost, the farmer received over 304.4 million VND of family net income (FNI). Furthermore, this system is highly cost-effective investment because the ratio cost of gross product and value added are 10 % and 13 %, respectively. The income per family labor is 0.9 million VND. Key recommendations and new study approach were proposed for sustainable development