The Effect of Socio-Economic Factors on Sustainable Food Consumption in Developing Economies (Published)
This study was aimed at determining socio-economic factors influencing sustainable food consumption in developing countries. Nigeria which is regarded as the ‘giant’ of Africa with a total population of over 200 million was used for the study. The growing global population has given an ardent need to focus specially on sustainability issues arising from food consumption. The Socio-economic domain dwells on food affordability while emphasizing the social acceptability of foods. Various economic and sociological theories such as Engels law, Keynesian theory and Veblenian theory were reviewed and previous empirical works in these areas discussed. Selected households from the south eastern part of Nigeria were used as respondents for the study and the formulated hypotheses tested with the use of multiple regression. Results reveal a significant relationship between product price, income and education, social groups and substitutes on food consumption. Findings were discussed and conclusions drawn thereof.
Keywords: Consumption, Economic, sociological, sustainable foods
Relationship Between International Trade and Economic Growth: A Case of Ho Chi Minh City (Published)
Economic growth has been gradually reduced depending on investment capital, increasing scientific and technical factors. Commercial sector of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) continued to grow, total retail sales of goods and service revenue increased higher than the same period. However, the context of 2019, HCMC has facing many problems such as the limitations of investment resources, human resource quality… This requires HCMC must improve the quality of economic growth. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the determinants affecting the economic growth of HCMC. The researchers surveyed 400 managers related to exporting enterprise in HCMC. They answered 15 questions and 395 samples processed. The data collected from August 2018 to April 2019 in HCM. Simple random sampling technique. The data analyzed Cronbach’s Alpha and the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which used for Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique. Managers’ responses measured through an adapted questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale. Finally, the findings of the paper have three factors affecting the economic growth of HCMC with significance level 0.01.
Keywords: Economic, Growth, International, trade and export
Assessment of Digital Economic Trade on Consumer (Published)
Increasing volumes of e-trade contribute to motivation of consumers to obtain commodities and services in electronic space. At the same time, upsurge of e-trade determines rising scopes of shadow economy in respect of favorable conditions for traders and service providers to operate in e-space evading taxpaying. The purpose of the article is to identify the factors of digital shadow consumption. In order to fulfill the defined purpose, the empirical research – survey of consumers (e-trade participants) – was performed. The research of the scientific literature has revealed that thus far the problem of consumers’ participation in digital shadow economy has been basically analyzed focusing on the impact of e-payment systems on shadow economy. Nevertheless, the rapid spread of e-services determines the changes in the concept of shadow economy itself. It remains indistinct which features indicate whether economic activities performed in e-space should be accounted or not. Widely exploited e-spaces such as social network platforms, alternative future currencies, e-trade systems, cyber computer games or online gambling terminals generate turnover of real money (or its electronic equivalent), which is not officially accounted. The problem raised in this article is highly topical for Lithuania, where online networks as well as mobile connection systems are comparatively advanced (with reference to the data of Lithuanian Department of Statistics, the number of households possessing a computer and the Internet access made over 65% in 2013). Intense exploitation of advanced IT technologies and online networks is considered as a breeding ground for generation of digital economy, a part of which is presumed to be digital shadow. The results of the research have revealed that the most significant factors of digital shadow consumption include lower prices of products and services in digital black markets, unfavorable economic situation in the country, technological advancement, IT advantages, time saving obtaining a product/service in the local market and lack of opportunities to obtain a desired product in the local market. The majority of the consumers neither verify the status of a trader nor request (or not always request) purchase confirmation documents, which highly contributes to motivation of an illegal trader to maintain e-activities unregistered, this way escaping revenue taxation.
Keywords: Consumer, E-trade, Economic, Electronic, Market, Technology