Essays on international trade, endogenous quality and invasive species risk

This dissertation studies the relation between international trade and two issues that have become the active fields of economic research: the firms\u27 quality decisions and the invasive species risk.;On the quality choice, the dissertation focuses on the impact of Voluntary Import Expansions (VIEs) on firms\u27 quality decisions. I model a vertically differentiated international duopoly, with one firm in each country. A domestic and an exporting firm choose the quality of their goods and then compete in the domestic market. Both quantity and price conjectures are considered. The paper investigates the case where the government of the exporting country imposes a VIE before firms\u27 quality decision. I show that the VIE is a powerful protection to the exporting firm not only at the quantity or price competition stage but also when the impact of VIE on quality choice are taken into account. I also indicate the possibility that a VIE below the laissez faire solution binds.;On the invasive species (IS) risk, the dissertation analyzes the linkage between protectionism and invasive species hazard in the context of two-way trade and multilateral trade liberalization. In a perfectly competitive two way trade model, I show that the multilateral trade integration is much more likely to increase the damage from invasive species than predicted by unilateral trade liberalization under the classical Heckscher-Ohlin-Samuelson framework. I also find that market structure does not affect the qualitative results. I illustrate the analytical results with a stylized model of the world wheat market.;The dissertation also investigates the interface between tariff escalation and invasive species risk, with a focus on the agricultural and food-processing sectors. Tariff escalation in processed agro-forestry products exacerbates the risk of IS by biasing trade flows towards increased trade of primary commodity flows and against processed-product trade. I show that reductions of tariff escalation by reduction of the tariff on processed goods increase allocative efficiency and reduce the IS externality, a win-win situation. I also identify policy menus for trade reforms involving tariffs on both raw input and processed goods leading to win-win situations

Tariff Escalation and Invasive Species Risk

We investigate the interface between trade and invasive species (IS) risk, focusing on the existing tariff escalation in agricultural and food-processing markets and its implication IS risk. Tariff escalation in processed agro-forestry products exacerbates the risk of IS by biasing trade flows towards increased trade of primary commodity flows and against processed-product trade. We show that reductions of tariff escalation by reduction of the tariff on processed goods increase allocative efficiency and reduce the IS externality, a win-win situation. We also identify policy menus for trade reforms involving tariffs on both raw input and processed goods leading to win-win situations.International Relations/Trade,

Is Vietnam economic paradigm sustainable for catch up

In the course of catching-up, Vietnam faces risks in two sectors: in real sector and in financial sector. In this paper we focus mostly on risk in real sector: the risk of getting stuck in middle-income trap. Vietnam is still far lagged behind her neighbors and much more further to developed economies. Does the economic paradigm that Vietnam follows in the last two decades allow her to catch up with those economies? We show that Vietnam’s economic growth in the last two decades based essentially on cheap but low skill labor and physical capital. Participation in international and regional production network probably lock Vietnam in low-tech position, hence low value added. If Vietnam keeps on growing in present paradigm, hardly can it catch up the neighboring economies.Flying geese paradigm, VAR models, TFP, Technological improvement, catch-up, Vietnam.

An Assessment of the Potential Economic Impacts of RCEP on Vietnam Automobile Sector

This research aims at examining impacts of ASEAN+6 trade agreements on the automobile industry in Vietnam. Vietnam's automobile industry competes with Thailand, Indonesia and the ASEAN countries as well as China, Korea, Japan and those covered by the ASEAN agreement. By 2018, the automobile import tariff from China, Korea and Japan will be reduced to 5%. In the context of multiple trade agreements, the study of the automobile industry has recently become an interesting topic, especially for policy debate

Internationalization and Turkish Manufacturing Firm Performance – Does Managerial Personality Matter?

This study investigates the impact of the managers’ experience and gender on the relationship between internationalization and business performance of manufacturing firms in Turkey. Based on a dataset collected by the World Bank, including 263 manufacturing enterprises in Turkey, we find that more well-experienced managers can positively improve the relationship between internationalization and firm performance. In contrast, this relationship will be reduced when the business has a female executive manager. This result adds to the empirical evidence and reinforces the theory of internationalization, especially in transition economies. The research implications are to help policymakers promulgate appropriate policies to support and accelerate the internationalization of businesses

An Assessment of the Potential Economic Impacts of RCEP on Vietnam Automobile Sector

This research aims at examining impacts of ASEAN+6 trade agreements on the automobile industry in Vietnam. Vietnam's automobile industry competes with Thailand, Indonesia and the ASEAN countries as well as China, Korea, Japan and those covered by the ASEAN agreement. By 2018, the automobile import tariff from China, Korea and Japan will be reduced to 5%. In the context of multiple trade agreements, the study of the automobile industry has recently become an interesting topic, especially for policy debate

Student Satisfaction with Quality of Accounting and Auditing Education: The Case of Vietnam

This research is conducted to examine and evaluate determinants influencing the level of student satisfaction in the quality of auditing and accounting training at Vietnamese universities. Data were collected from 213 students of accounting and auditing field in three universities of National Economics University, University of Commerce and Academy of Finance. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and linear regression models were employed to determine the determinants influencing student satisfaction about quality of accounting and auditing. The findings show that the strongest impact on student satisfaction was the ability to serve; then training program; infrastructure component, and the last of teaching team. Based on the results, some recommendations are proposed for improving the satisfaction levels of students of accounting and auditing. Keywords: Quality of service; Quality of training; Satisfactio

Inequalities between peri-urban and urban areas in urbanization process of Ho Chi Minh city: an urban political-ecology perspective

Thanks to the implementation of Vietnam’s economic renovation or ‘Doi Moi’ policy since 1986, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) urban has grown quickly. However, this also leads to an increase in inequality. Its peri-urban area, which undergoes higher level of urbanization than urban area, faces more problems such as land use change, inadequate development process, unequal allocation of services and investment, and ignorance of environmental protection and cultural preservation. These impacts show inequality in standards of living between residents of the two areas. Using the framework of the Peri-Urban Political-Ecology, this paper aims to depict a general picture of the situation and analyse the causes of social inequalities between these two areas in terms of economy, public services, and environment through “everyday practices” (i.e. events, problems, stories, etc.). The paper uses HCMC’s statistical data in 2015-2017 periods and research findings from previous studies. The results shows that the main causes in inequalities between these two areas are the inevitability of urban metabolism and the unequal power interaction among the state, society and market

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): Impact on the Integration of Textile and Apparel Supply Chain in the Asia-Pacific Region

this study intends to evaluate how will the implementation of the RCEP affect the integration of textile and apparel (T&A) supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region

Validation and utilization of an internally controlled multiplex Real-time RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of enteroviruses and enterovirus A71 associated with hand foot and mouth disease

Background: Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a disease of public health importance across the Asia-Pacific region. The disease is caused by enteroviruses (EVs), in particular enterovirus A71 (EV-A71). In EV-A71-associated HFMD, the infection is sometimes associated with severe manifestations including neurological involvement and fatal outcome. The availability of a robust diagnostic assay to distinguish EV-A71 from other EVs is important for patient management and outbreak response. Methods: We developed and validated an internally controlled one-step single-tube real-time RT-PCR in terms of sensitivity, linearity, precision, and specificity for simultaneous detection of EVs and EV-A71. Subsequently, the assay was then applied on throat and rectal swabs sampled from 434 HFMD patients. Results: The assay was evaluated using both plasmid DNA and viral RNA and has shown to be reproducible with a maximum assay variation of 4.41 % and sensitive with a limit of detection less than 10 copies of target template per reaction, while cross-reactivity with other EV serotypes was not observed. When compared against a published VP1 nested RT-PCR using 112 diagnostic throat and rectal swabs from 112 children with a clinical diagnosis of HFMD during 2014, the multiplex assay had a higher sensitivity and 100 % concordance with sequencing results which showed EVs in 77/112 (68.8 %) and EV-A71 in 7/112 (6.3 %). When applied to clinical diagnostics for 322 children, the assay detected EVs in throat swabs of 257/322 (79.8 %) of which EV-A71 was detected in 36/322 (11.2 %) children. The detection rate increased to 93.5 % (301/322) and 13.4 % (43/322) for EVs and EV-A71, respectively, when rectal swabs from 65 throat-negative children were further analyzed. Conclusion: We have successfully developed and validated a sensitive internally controlled multiplex assay for rapid detection of EVs and EV-A71, which is useful for clinical management and outbreak control of HFMD. Keywords: Hand foot and mouth disease, Enteroviruses, Enterovirus A71, Real-time RT-PCR, Diagnosi