Improvement Of Business Environment Research Articles

How can pilot free trade zones affect regional technology innovation? –evidence from China at the city level

ABSTRACT This paper examines the impact of pilot Free Trade Zones (FTZs) on technology innovation in China. Applying a multi-phase difference in difference (DID) model with the data from 280 Chinese cities during 2004 – 2019, covering 18 pilot FTZs, we found significant positive technology innovation effects of pilot FTZs. Specifically, the establishment of pilot FTZs has encouraged ‘substantive innovation’ through improving business environment, producer services agglomeration and financial development. Further spatial analysis shows that the innovation effect of the pilot FTZs has a positive spillover effect on neighbouring cities whose innovation capabilities are improved significantly, and thus narrows the innovation gap between cities. In terms of time dimension, the positive effect of pilot FTZs on innovation is immediate and continuously amplified. The above conclusions are robust using the placebo test, PSM-DID and control of provincial effects. The results provide important implications in extending the pilot FTZs to a wider coverage.

Improving business environment for information technology adoption in small business: evidence from a transition economy

ABSTRACT Adoption of information technology is widely known to be important for firm development. Nonetheless, little has been revealed about how to promote micro-sized firms to adopt information technology. Using the zero-inflated Poisson model to analyse longitudinal data adopted from the biennial Small and Medium Enterprises Surveys in the manufacturing sectors and data on the quality of the local business environment from the annual Provincial Competitiveness Index surveys in Vietnam, this study shows that while better infrastructure readiness is associated with more adoption of information technology among larger firms, it is not enough for micro-sized firms. These micro-sized firms need to be further supported by the improved quality of the local business environment. These findings suggest that policies on information technology should be complemented with policies to improve the business environment to facilitate adoption of information technology among micro-sized firms in transition economies.

The The Lagged Development of the Korean Manhwa Industry From 1910 to the Present:

In comparison to Korea’s other cultural industries, manhwa 만화 has shown a lagged development. As a result, the Korean government has recently shown interest in this industry and begun to support it. However, the fundamental reasons for the lagged development of manhwa should be carefully scrutinized in order to make promotion policies and support more effective and thus to achieve further development and advancement of the manhwa industry. This article seeks to address this issue and argues that the core problem is derived from a negative view toward manhwa as it has been considered to be harmful to Korean society and, hence, not acknowledged as a part of culture. Therefore, this paper takes a historical approach to track down how this negative view formed and why it has prevailed in Korea. To this end, political and economic changes related to the manhwa industry are analyzed with a focus on production and consumption. The paper reveals that it was not only coercive public policies but also a lack of production capacity that induced a distorted view toward manhwa and caused the development of the industry to lag. Where business strategies have been adopted in an improved business environment, this has helped to enhance production to achieve better outcomes and change the view of consumers toward manhwa, resulting in an increase in consumption.

FACTORS AND VECTOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONS IN THE SME SECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

One of the main policies of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan is to stimulate the development of the small business sector. Despite the improving business environment, there are problems affecting the national entrepreneurial sector. The aim of the study is to analyze the factors and directions of development of institutions related to small business, to identify patterns and predict their transformation. The paper uses the methodology of the theory of institutional change to describe, explain and recommend changes in the system of small business institutions.

Business Environment and Inclusive Growth Nexus: Evidence from African Countries

It is increasingly recognized that economic growth alone is not enough to guarantee the well-being of all. This is why the current debates on sustainable development are highlighting the need to promote inclusive growth in the world’s countries in general, and in developing countries in particular. And one way to achieve inclusive growth would be an improved business environment through better business regulations. This paper aims to analyze the relationship between business environment and inclusive growth in a sample of African countries over the period 2010-2018. The business environment is measured by the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index. Inclusive growth is measured by two proxies: 1) GDP per person employed and 2) an inclusive growth index constructed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method. In addition, we analyzed the above relationship in a static and dynamic framework. In the static framework, the business environment-inclusive growth relationship was analyzed by estimating a Panel Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) model as the baseline model and several other estimation models such as random-effects, fixed-effect Driscoll-Kraay, and pooled Ordinary Least Squares (pooled OLS). As for the dynamic framework, the study used the Generalized Method of Moments in system (System-GMM) estimation technique. The results show a positive and significant effect of business environment on inclusive growth. This result remains robust to the different estimation techniques used on the one hand and regardless of the measure of inclusive growth used on the other hand and suggests that a regulatory environment conducive to business activities is one way for African countries to achieve inclusive growth. From this result, policy recommendations have been formulated accordingly.

The Economic Impact of the UzTE16M3 Diesel Locomotive on the Marokand-Kattakurgan Railway Section

The Role of FDI and Rail Transport in the Economic Development of Central Asia. This paper examines the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) and rail transport in the economic development of Central Asia. The paper begins by providing an overview of the economic development of the region, with a focus on the role of FDI. The paper then discusses the role of rail transport in the region, and the implications of the growth in rail freight between China and Europe. The paper concludes by discussing the challenges and opportunities facing Central Asia in the coming years. Central Asia has attracted significant FDI in recent years, due to the region’s abundant natural resources, its strategic location, and its improving business environment. FDI has helped to improve the infrastructure in Central Asia, and has also created jobs and boosted economic growth. Rail transport is also a key driver of economic growth in Central Asia. The growth in rail freight between China and Europe is a positive development for Central Asia, as it provides an opportunity for the region to become a major transit hub. However, Central Asia still faces a number of challenges, such as political instability and economic volatility. If Central Asia can overcome these challenges, it has the potential to become a major economic player in the years to come.

Research on the optimization and improvement of business environment based on the customer satisfaction model of ‘Access to Electricity’

In order to further promote the reform of “deregulation and service” and continuously optimize the business environment, the power industry as the important part of national economic development, optimizing the business environment is urgent. Based on the customer satisfaction survey of ‘Access to electricity’, this paper constructs a set of targeted, complete and practical multiple regression model of electricity consumption satisfaction, and puts forward relevant strategies to help optimize and improve the business environment of the power industry.

Does a Stronger Business Environment Increase Export Variety?

ABSTRACT Optimizing the business environment is a new competitive edge to global economies in international competition and cooperation. Export variety is an important basis for the implementation of a country’s foreign trade diversification strategy. However, the impact of the business environment on export diversity remains unclear. Using World Bank Doing Business data and detailed product data of 145 countries from 2010 to 2018, we investigate the effects of the business environment on the export variety of home countries. We separate regulatory variables based on different stages of a firm’s life cycle and examine which regulatory factors of doing business influence export variety. The results show that business environment improvement promotes export variety through an increase in foreign direct investment (FDI). The improvement of the business environment promotes the export variety mainly in non-high-income countries but not in high-income countries. Dealing with construction permit negatively affect export variety, while trading across borders and resolving insolvency improve export variety.

Removing Legal Hurdles in Registration of Contracts for the Transfer of Patent Rights to Foster Innovation

Business environment improvement in support for the development of enterprises (such as innovative startups particularly) has attracted attention in Vietnam. Patent is a tool, important asset which is crucial for the success of innovative startups. However, one of the big hurdles for the commercialization of intellectual assets for enterprises in Vietnam is the administrative procedure for the registration of patent licensing/assignment agreements. The paper analyses difficulties and hurdles for business environment as a result of the required legally registration for patent licensing/assignment agreements, then recommend the solutions for relieve this hurdle.
 
 

Direct and Indirect Effects of Business Environment on BRI Countries' Global Value Chain Upgrading.

This study incorporates business environment, foreign direct investment (FDI), and the global value chain upgrading into a unified analysis framework to unravel the effects of business environment and FDI on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries’ status elevation on the global value chain. The panel data of 112 BRI countries from 2007 to 2017 are employed for empirical tests on the trilateral relationship through the panel data regression model. The results show: (1) business environment improvement and FDI inflow significantly promote BRI countries’ status elevation on the global value chain. Business environment not only elevates BRI countries’ status on the global value chain directly, but indirectly lifts their status through the intermediate effects of FDI; (2) business environment and FDI significantly promote the status elevation on the global value chain for industries that are intensive on varied factors, especially for labor-intensive industry; (3) the test results of the panel threshold model further verify the positive effect of the business environment and FDI inflows on BRI countries’ status elevation on the global value chain.

Management Accounting Techniques and Firm Performance of Major Construction Companies in Nigeria

To remain competitive, construction companies must continually improve and one way is by use of the right MATs. The adoption of MATs can help organizations to improve their financial performance continually and consequently overall national economic development. This study investigated influence of management accounting techniques on the firm performance of construction companies in Nigeria. The objectives were, to assess firm performance level of construction companies in Nigeria, to examine the influence of activity-based costing (ABC), strategic analysis, and budgeting practices on firm performance. The study used quantitative research design while the target population was all the 35 major construction firms. The sample size was 13 companies. The research used questionnaire to gather data from 170 managers. The study used descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. The study found that ABC, strategic analysis, and budgeting practices had positive relationship with firm performance. The study concludes that the companies employed ABC to improve firm performance. The study concludes that most companies used both internal and external analysis to improve performance. The study concludes that many companies failed to involve all departments during budgeting. The study recommends that companies should increase resources to complete projects within stipulated time frame. The study recommends that the policies should be enhanced by conducting researches and regular evaluation to improve business environment for the realization of improved performance of the construction companies. Key words: Management Accounting Techniques, Activity-Based Costing, Firm Performance, Strategic Analysis, and Budgeting Practices

Effect of provincial competitiveness index on enterprise attraction in the Central Highlands, Vietnam.

This study aims to make a critical review of provincial competitiveness index (PCI) in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. In this regard, the research examines relationships between PCI and the possible attraction of enterprises operating in the region, thereafter, proposes some policy recommendations to improve business environment in the region. The secondary dataset of PCI and enterprise were incorporate with primary data collected from qualitative methods to explore the effect of PCI on enterprise attraction. The results show that the enterprises which have been operating in the Central Highlands accounted for 2.2% of the total with invested capital and accounted for 1.1% of whole country in 2018. PCI highly correlates with the number of enterprises, the employees and the capital of enterprises. Consequently, in order to attract enterprises, local governments in the region need to improve sub-indexes thereby improving general PCI scores.

A Study of Relationship Between Entrepreneurial Barriers and Entrepreneurship Intentions among University Students in Malaysia

Entrepreneurship is seen as one of the key economic development strategies needed to advance the country’s economic growth and to maintain its competitiveness in operating in the growing trend of globalization. Entrepreneurial and entrepreneurial activities play an important role in the economic development of individuals, communities and even countries. Unfortunately, most university students who want to start a business believe that there are many obstacles they have to face in making the business a reality. The purpose of this study is to identify and measure the barriers to entrepreneurship in Malaysia based on one dependent variable and several independent variables. University students face various obstacles such as lack of social networks, lack of resources and fear of failure that can hinder their intention to become entrepreneurs. The barriers faced by university students may indicate a different perspective compared to existing entrepreneurs. This study is quantitative in nature and questionnaires were distributed to collect information from respondents based on 118 sample size measurements and using the convenience sampling method. Data obtained through questionnaires will be analyzed and evaluated with multiple regression statistical tests. The solution of this study aims to fill the research gap and also be able to provide useful insights of youth entrepreneurship to policy makers, education management and government to foster student entrepreneurship develop entrepreneurial ecosystem and improve business environment.

Management Accounting Techniques and Project Performance of Major Construction Companies in Nigeria

To remain competitive, construction companies must continually improve and one way is by use of the right MATs. In this regard, the adoption of MATs can help organizations to improve their project performance continually and consequently overall national economic development. Therefore, the study investigated influence of management accounting techniques on project performance of construction companies in Nigeria. The objectives were, to assess the performance level of construction companies in Nigeria, to examine the influence of activity-based costing (ABC), strategic analysis, and budgeting practices on project performance. The study used quantitative research design while the target population was all the 35 major construction firms. The sample size was 13 companies. The research used questionnaire to gather data from 170 managers. The study used descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. The study found that ABC, strategic analysis, and budgeting practices had positive relationship with project performance . The study concludes that the companies employed ABC to improve performance. The study concludes that most companies used both internal and external analysis to improve performance. The study concludes that many companies failed to involve all departments during budgeting. The research concludes that the government policies did not provide conducive business environment. The study recommends that companies should increase resources to complete projects within stipulated time frame. The study recommends that the policies should be enhanced by conducting researches and regular evaluation to improve business environment for the realization of improved project performance of the construction companies.

Effects of governance quality on exports in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper investigates the effects of governance quality on exports in sub-Saharan African countries. We include the six worldwide governance indicators (i.e., voice and accountability, political stability, regulatory quality, rule of law, control of corruption, and government effectiveness) as explanatory factors for exports and its components in a sample of 45 countries over the period 1996–2019. System GMM approach is privileged for estimations. We find that total exports and exports of services are positively affected by the six governance indicators, while manufactured goods are positively associated with those indicators except government effectiveness. While political stability, voice and accountability, rule of law, and control of corruption have positive effects on exports of goods, only voice and accountability impact positively primary commodities. This indicates that sub-Saharan African countries should focus on strengthening political governance and improving business environment to boost exports.

DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN REGIONS OF LATVIA

For successful economic transition to the new stage of development improvements in business environment, as also the entrepreneurswho are ready to start your own business and to set up new companies. One of the main challenges the EU Member States face isthe need to boost their level of entrepreneurship and to become more competitive in the global market. That was one of the mainobjectives set by the Lisbon European Council, in March 2000, with a view to improving the Union’s performance in terms of employment,economic reform and social cohesion. Entrepreneurship is not only a driving force in the creation of new jobs, but it alsoincreases and enhances competitiveness and growth, personal fulfilment and the achievement of social objectives. The authors payspecific attention to the need to examine factors that affect the business environment development and entrepreneurship in regions ofLatvia, which determinethe complexity of the existing conditions and factors in each region in Latvia.

The role of familial, social, educational and business environmental factors on entrepreneurial intention among university students in Bangladesh

This article showed the degree of association between Entrepreneurial Intentions of students and several factors. Descriptive statistics showed that 72 percent of total respondents’ neighbors and relatives consider entrepreneurship as a risky task. 64 percent of the total sample opined that poor business environment creating hindrance for initiating a venture and 78 percent of the total respondents stated that family’s view is extremely important for shaping students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Ordinal Logistics Regression has been applied to test the degree of students’ agreeableness about initiating a venture associated with different factors. The higher odd ratios clearly stated that improved business environment and positivity in families’ views can have positive impact on students’ attitude for undertaking entrepreneurship after their studies. Society’s view and ‘Entrepreneurship Development’ module at university level somehow have less impact on respondents’ positivity towards undertaking entrepreneurship.

Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical Analysis

This paper examines the role played by country-specific factors in the determination of export product diversification process. To meet this objective, the paper begins by constructing a time series data for export diversification using the Herfindahl index. Then, it applies the fully modified OLS co-integration model to a panel of selected ASEAN and SAARC countries to find out the main determinants of export product diversification. Export diversification pattern shows that since the mid-1980s the ASEAN countries have continuously witnessed export diversification and the SAARC countries embarked on export diversification journey since the early 1990s. Analysis of the determinants suggests that foreign direct investment, domestic investment, competitiveness, real depreciation of domestic currency, financial sector development and institutional strength are significantly and positively related to export product diversification in both regions. These findings have important policy implications for the two regions. They call upon the policymakers for further diversification of exports, especially in the areas of their specialization that are vital for their smooth and sustained foreign exchange earnings as well as economic development. The study also recommends improving international competitive strength via improving business environment to achieve the goal of export product diversification.

Reforming specialized inspection procedures to improve business environment in vietnam for trade facilitation implementation

our study aims to analyze and assess the process of reforming the specialized inspection procedures in Vietnam which is included in Vietnam’s trade facilitation implementation program, and suggesting some recommendations for Vietnam to do the reform to improve business environment and enhance Vietnam’s national competitiveness. By synthesizing and analyzing secondary data from creditable sources such as World Bank, UNESCAPE, UNCTAD, WTO, VCCI, General Department of Vietnam Customs, as well as interviewing officials from Ministry of Industry and Trade of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, etc. Ha and Lan (2021) stated Economic regulatory reform in Vietnam started in the early 1990s and accelerated when the country shifted its focus to economic integration policy by acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 and engaging in regional free trade agreements in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).After analyzing and assessing the real situation of Vietnam’s trade facilitation and specialized inspection reforms, this paper would like to suggest some recommendations to continuously implement specialized inspection reforms, implement trade facilitation, improve Vietnam’s business environment and enhance Vietnam’s national competitiveness.

Empirical Analysis on the Influence of Business Environment on Foreign Direct Investment Inflow Based on the Panel Data on 26 Countries

With the intensification of global competition and development of investment theories, foreign direct investment (FDI) is no longer solely affected by economic factors. Many noneconomic factors, such as policies and institution, now play an important role in FDI inflow. As a composite indicator, business environment has attracted a growing attention from investors. From theoretical and empirical perspectives, this paper quantifies and qualifies the influence of business environment over the FDI under different conditions. The impact mechanism of business environment on the FDI was refined by decomposing business environment into multiple subfactors, and considering various factors of different economies, such as natural resources (NR), technological resources (TR), and political stability (PS). An empirical analysis was conducted on the panel data of 26 countries in 2005-2018. The results show that: the host country can attract more FDI inflow by improving business environment, NR, TR, and PS; excessively high NR and TR, to a certain extent, suppress the promotion effect of business environment on FDI; four subfactors of business environment, namely, the protection of small and medium investor (PI), cross-border trade (CT), electricity supply (ES), and insolvency (IN), have relatively high promotion effects on FDI inflow. The research results enrich the theories on FDI and business environment, and provide a reference for the design of innovative polices.