The Impacts of Internal Audit Practices on the Quality of Internal Control in Vietnamese Smes

Purpose: This study examines the impacts of internal audit practices on internal control in Vietnamese SMEs.   Theoretical framework: This paper employs the three lines of defense model framework to study the impact of internal audit practices on internal control in Vietnamese SMEs. Internal auditing practices were measured by the items listed in the attribute standards and performance standards of the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF). Internal control quality includes control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring which are provided by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) Framework.   Design/methodology/approach: We collect primary data using questionnaire. Data collected from the questionnaire is divided into two groups (1) the measurement of the internal auditing practices and (2) the measurement of the quality of internal control system. We then use the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test for the hypotheses related to the relationship between internal audit practices and internal control.   Findings: Our results suggest that both attribute standards and performance standards have positive impacts on the control environment, risk assessment, control activities, and monitoring aspects of internal control. Meanwhile, internal audit seems to not influence the information and communication.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The study contributes to the literature by shedding light on the impacts of internal audit practices on the quality of internal control in Vietnamese SMEs.   Originality/value: This study examines the unique context of Vietnamese SMEs. Ultimately, the framework aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how internal audit practices impact internal control quality in this specific context

The role of technological advancement, supply chain, environmental, social, and governance responsibilities on the sustainable development goals of SMEs in Vietnam

Technological advancement along with environmental, social, and governance responsibilities are the essential issues in the sustainable development goals of SMEs in Vietnam. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the influence of technological advancement as well as environmental, social, and governance responsibilities towards sustainable development goals while also examining the moderating role of supply chain to the relationship between technological advancement and the sustainable development goals of SMEs in Vietnam. This study used a questionnaire as its data collection method and smart-PLS to analyze the data. The results indicate that technological advancement, environmental, and social responsibilities have a positive association with the sustainable development goals of SMEs in Vietnam. It was also revealed that supply chain significantly moderates the nexus between technological advancement and sustainable development goals. This study serves as a guideline for the regulators in developing regulations related to the sustainable development of business organizations

The acacia plantation boom in Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Central Vietnam: A survey of tree farmers' shifting livelihoods, environmental perceptions, and occupational perspectives

The rise of exotic-species-based plantation forestry in biodiverse tropical countries transforms livelihoods and environmental qualities in various ways. Through 180 structured interviews of different types of acacia plantation owners (producers of woodchips/sawlogs, with/without membership in a recent Forest Stewardship Council [FSC] program) we investigated such transformations in three districts along a lowland-upland gradient in Thừa Thiˆen Huế Province, Central Vietnam. We focused on how trajectories of livelihood and income changes related to the farmers’ perceptions on environmental changes, and how this, in turn, was linked to the farmers’ assessments of opportunities, risks, and concrete plans in tree cultivations. Sawlog producers (especially with FSC-certification) in the lowlands had been among the first to plant acacias in the 1990s, and in 2018 usually owned large plantations. In contrast, most farmers producing just woodchips were smallholders. Before acacias the farmers’ livelihoods were often more diversified in terms of agricultural products. Since then, many farmers (especially in the lowlands) abandoned rice/cassava production and/or livestock keeping to concentrate on wood production, willingly and/or as an outcome of land conversion (enclosure) to privatised plantations. Farmers’ incomes and material assets usually increased (especially FSC-farmers), but most smallholders still depended on incomes from subsidiary wage labor. Within a context of ‘development’ improvements were also seen in infrastructure (buildings, roads, water provisioning) and public services (education, health). Considering acacia planting most farmers (especially FSC-farmers in the lowlands) saw environmental improvements in terms of soil fertility and landscape amenity, but not wildlife habitat. Most farmers also saw plantation value (especially on longer rotations) in terms of natural hazards mitigation (i.e. floods, droughts, soil erosion), but storms were also noted as the main risk to plantations (especially in the uplands). Another emerging risk was posed by plant diseases affecting acacias in the mid-/lowlands. Projective future plans to change plantation areas and/or crop rotations depended on the farmers’ economic strengths in terms of plantation land or other capital. Regarding future risks most farmers noted environmental impacts (storms, plant diseases) rather than economic factors (with wood market prices considered stable). Overall, the results suggest an appreciable value of acacia plantations to farmers, however with some marked distinctions between richer (FSC-certified) and poorer (smallholder) farmers as well as farmers in different regions with distinct terrain and land use management histories. We discuss such distinctions whilst also noting relevant study limitations connected to the complex socio-politics of land titling and uses, especially in the uplands

Acacia Plantation Development and the Configuration of Tree Farmers' Agricultural Assets and Land Management—A Survey in Central Vietnam

Since 1990 acacia-based tree plantations have fast expanded in Vietnam, now supporting a multi-billion-dollar export-oriented wood industry which is transforming from woodchip production to value-added products. Within this dynamic context, tree farmer associations have started to produce sawlogs under FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. In this paper, we retrace the development of plantation assets, investigating farmers’ current livelihoods and land management, specifically considering various aspects of sustainability. We interviewed 180 tree farmers in three districts (lowland–upland regions) of Thừa Thiên Huế Province, including sawlog producers with and without FSC and smallholder producers of woodchips. Acacia planting in ‘barren lands’ was initiated through state programs in the 1990s (low-/midlands) and 2010s (uplands). Farmers now producing FSC sawlogs were among the first to gain forestland tenure; they now own large plantations (on good terrain), are in tune with policies and maintain resources/capacities to adopt management in line with FSC standards. Yet, most farmers also retain plots for easy-to-manage and low-risk woodchip production. Soil/vegetation conservation depends on farmers’ status/capacities and environmental awareness; FSC membership added economic-political benefits. Findings are discussed within a regional historic context. Plantations contribute to economic development, but issues persist/emerged in terms of land equity and environmental governance, risks (e.g., plant pathogens), and spaces/impetus for farm-based innovation and adaptiveness

How heterogeneous are the determinants of total factor productivity in manufacturing sectors? Panel-data evidence from vietnam

One of the remaining challenges in explaining differences in total factor productivity is heterogeneity between sectors and within a specific sector in terms of labor and capital. This paper employs the generalized method of moments (GMM) to identify factors that affect total factor productivity across 21 manufacturing sectors and to clarify the heterogeneous determinants of total factor productivity within manufacturing sectors for the period 2010–2015. Our estimations show that large firms have significantly greater total factor productivity levels than small firms in some fragmentations of firms in terms of both labor and total capital and in some manufacturing sectors. It is suggested that firm characteristics should be considered by the government in establishing relevant policies for enhancing firm productivity

Dynamics of Household-level Energy Access in Vietnam during 2002-2014

The energy sector in Vietnam, a country in energy transition, plays a vital role in the country's economic growth and development. In the current paper, we perform a critical analysis of the dynamics of energy access status in Vietnam, using nationally representative household surveys in seven waves from 2002 till 2014. We find that the most important drivers of the household energy transition are income, urbanization, demographic factors, and the geographic variations. In the future, policies on the pace of urbanization and growth of household income will have a significant impact on the rate of the household energy transition. In addition, social policies aimed at providing greater access to higher education may also influence the pace of the transition. A balanced growth model among different geographic regions can also contribute to a more balanced distribution of energy consumption in Vietnam. Keywords: Household, Energy access, Vietnam JEL Classifications: D11, R22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.749

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF GAMMA-AMINO BUTYRIC ACID (GABA) PRODUCTION FROM RICE BRAN

This research focused on technical assessment of GABA production from rice bran through fermentation by Lactobacillus brevis. Influence of operating pressure on separation of GABA by nanofiltration membrane was investigated and 4 bar was suitable for the nanofiltration process. The purification of GABA by nanofiltration with constant feed volume was carried out and purity of GABA reached 4.8 folds, compared to feed, at 5 volumes of added water. At 40 of concentration factor in concentration of GABA solution by nanofiltration with full recycle of retentate, content of GABA reached 49.8 g/L. The production of GABA from defatted rice bran at pilot scale was carried out at 1,000 L/batch (equal to 200 kg of rice bran) of fermentation. Estimation of mass balance showed that, with 200 kg of defatted rice bran, 7.0 kg of GABA powder was obtained. Results indicated that, it is potential to produce GABA from rice bran through the fermentation by Lactobacillus brevis

HOLLOW GOLD NANOSTRUCTURES PREPARED BY GALVANIC REPLACEMENT REACTION: SYNTHESIS AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES

This work describes a facile synthesis of hollow Au nanostructures involved in the galvanic replacement reaction utilising Ag nanoparticles as the templates. The effect of reaction conditions, including PVP concentration and reaction time on the morphology of Ag templates was investigated. Using Ag nanocubic-shape templates, 50 nm hollow Au nanostructures were prepared. The result indicated that the wavelength of SPR peak of the hollow Au nanostructures was strongly affected by Au precursor content and could be tuned between 460 and 860 nm when altering the volume of the Au precursor solution from 0.5 to 3 ml. The ability of conversion of photo energy into heat of the hollow Au nanostructures was also exploited. The optical heating data of Au solution (165 µg/ml) with an 808 nm laser at a power of 1.8 W showed that the sample temperature reached to 55 oC after just 5 min irradiation. The successfulness in fabrication hollow Au nanostructures having SPR peak in NIR region, relative small size and high capacity of conversion of photo energy into heat make them become a novel and promising material for photo thermal and photo imaging applications

Application of multispectral UAV to estimate mangrove biomass in Vietnam: A case study in Dong Rui commune, Quang Ninh Province

Mangroves play an important role in coastal estuarine areas with different ecological functions, such as reducing the impact of waves and currents, accumulating biomass and sequestering carbon. However, estimation of terrestrial biomass in mangrove areas, especially in Vietnam, has not been fully studied. The application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), mounted with multispectral cameras combined with field verification is an effective method for estimating terrestrial biomass for mangroves, as it reduces field survey time and allows for greater spatial range research. In this study, ground biomass was estimated for the mangrove area in the Dong Rui commune, based on multispectral image data obtained from UAV and survey results in 16 standard cells measuring actual biomass according to four regression models: Log-Log, Log-Lin, Lin-Log and Lin-Lin. The results of comparing the data from these four models show that the log-log model has the highest accuracy with a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.831). Based on the results of the analysis and selection of ground-based biomass estimation models, a biomass map was established for the UAV flying area in the Dong Rui mangrove forest with biomass values ranging from 20 Mg/ha to 150 Mg/ha. In summary, we present a biomass estimation method through four basic linear regression models for mangrove areas, based on multispectral image data obtained from ultrahigh-resolution UAV. The resulting research results can serve as a basis for managers to calculate and synchronise the payment of carbon services, thus contributing to effectively promoting the livelihoods of local people

Vertical financial disparity, energy prices and emission reduction: Empirical insights from Pakistan

The economic and environmental aspects of energy production have become important due to the increasing complexity energy sector and environmental pollution, warranting to test the connection between financial imbalances, energy prices and carbon emission. The study aims to test the impact of vertical fiscal imbalances (VFI) on energy prices and carbon emission trends by considering the dual-perspectives of environmental regulation and industrial structure. The empirical outcomes indicated that vertical fiscal imbalances limited the environmental quality of Pakistan. Furthermore, VFI also caused environmental degradation by affecting industrial structure. VFI inhibits the intensity of environmental regulation, promotes the upgrade of industrial structures, both of which cause additional carbon emissions. The study suggest to energy ministries and energy regulation offices to revisit the mechanism of energy prices determination and revised mechanism should provide a user-friendly assessment to understand the actual costs associated with the rising concern of environmental pollution. By this, environmental protection maximization and optimal energy conservation is expected to increase. Based on empirical findings, the study extends the suggestion that vertical fiscal imbalances should be considered an active indicator by the key policy makers and other stakeholders for energy prices determination and environmental quality upgradation