• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-20
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• 2021

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the welfare effects of standards harmonization between technologically asymmetric countries, and to determine optimal harmonization strategies for a country with mid-level technological advancement. Design/methodology - Following Salop's circular city model (Salop, 1979), this study constructs a simple, horizontally-differentiated oligopoly model in which three firms and three countries exist. Each country adopts different compatibility standards and each firm incurs conversion costs for foreign market access due to differences in standards. The conversion costs are related to technology; standards harmonization removes these costs between participating countries. The paper considers three cases: i) no harmonization; ii) harmonization with the more technologically-advanced country and iii) harmonization with the less technologically-advanced country. Findings - The paper first considers a scenario in which all three firms occupy some share of the market in each country. It shows that standards harmonization with both the technologically moreor less-advanced country always increases consumer surplus and social welfare. In addition, the producer surplus will increase if the harmonization partner has a higher technology level, whereas it may decrease if the partner has a lower technology level. It also shows that if most domestic export goods are in sectors with conversion costs above a certain level, harmonizing standards with a technologically more-advanced country should be prioritized. Such strategies, moreover, should be emphasized when there exists a large technology gap among countries. Lastly, the paper considers another scenario, in which harmonization leads to the foreclosure of the non-member firm from the member countries' markets. It shows that harmonization improves the social welfare of a mid-level technology country regardless of its partner's technology. It also shows that the country should prioritize harmonization with the technologically less-advanced country. Originality/value - Though some of the existing studies consider the welfare effects of harmonization, their main assumption is that firms have the same conversion technology. Since complying with standards often requires substantial technological advancement and technical expertise, harmonization of compatibility standards between countries with gaps in technological ability carries different implications. This paper investigates the welfare effects of this harmonization and determines an optimal harmonization strategy while considering technological asymmetry among countries in standards compliance.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.565-577
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• 2020

This study empirically examined how a firm size affects the determinants of innovative activities using the data of the Korean Innovation Survey (KIS) 2016. With data from 2,003 firms in the manufacturing sector, we performed logistic regression analysis and zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis. R&D expenditure and patent applications were used as proxies for innovative activity. The independent variables included the firm's characteristics variables such as the firm's age, tech-level industry, RDemp (R&D employee ratio), venture, export, and industrial characteristics variables such as networking, appropriability, and spillovers. The empirical findings are that there are some differences in firms' innovative activity determinants among the firms' size groups. Next, strategic appropriability has negative impacts on small firms' R&D expenditure and medium-firms' patents. Networking is an important determinant of innovative activity for all firms, except for large firms. Furthermore, in deciding R&D activities, small and medium-sized firms were significantly influenced by industrial characteristics as compared to that of large firms. Our findings suggest some R&D promotion policies. Policies fostering firms' technological interaction would allow firms to take advantage of technological spillovers and thus raise the probability of investing in R&D.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.119-134
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• 2019

This study focuses on a recent WTO SPS dispute related to Korea Import Bans and Testing and Certification Requirements for Radionuclides (DS495) in order to learn from the case and take proactive measures to prevent potential import restrictions by Japan on Korean seafood. Korean-Radionuclides (Japan) emphasizes the importance of sufficient scientific evidence, especially scientific information from relevant international organizations, in an effort to take preventive measures towards Japan's restrictions on Korean seafood imports. Japan claims that a novel parasite, Kudoa septempuctata, in Korean flatfish causes food poisoning. As food poisoning is a serious concern, there is a low possibility that Japan's enhanced monitoring measures would be more trade restrictive than required as prescribed in Article 5.6 of the WTO SPS Agreement. In addition, Korea is the biggest exporter of olive flounder to Japan. Hence, the possibility that similar conditions could be established is low in relation to non-discriminatory principles under the WTO SPS Agreement. Accordingly, we should collect relevant scientific evidence, improve domestic sanitary management of fishery products, and seek export diversification so that we prepare for potential import restrictions by Japan and minimize implications.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.107-123
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• 2020

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Granger Causality relations between Korean FDI and exports in Vietnam using time-series from 2005 to 2019. Using 15-industry semi-annual data of Korean FDI and exports toward Vietnam, the Granger Causality Tests were conducted. Var and VEC models were decided after unit-root and cointegration tests of variables. Findings and implications of the empirical tests are as follows. First, unexpectedly FDI did not Grange-cause exports only in one direction. In two industries, food & beverage and medical & chemical products, there were Granger causality relations in both directions. In eight industries including print, publishig, pulp & paper, exports did Grange-cause FDI. In the rest of five industries including automative & trailer industry, there were no Granger Causality relation in both directions. Second, we presume that the both direction-causality relations are desirable phenomenon for Korea. Because Korean FDI and exports are increasing at the same time. On the other hand, substitution relationship between Korea's exports and FDI occur in the industry that exports did Grange-cause FDI. Finally, more in-depth researches considering Vietnam's consumer demand and the oriented characteristics of FDI are needed. The results of this research will contribute to understand structural patterns of FDI and exports in Vietnam and to make investment and export decisions.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.251-265
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• 2021

It seems a common sense that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a key driver to attain business sustainability. Nevertheless, there has been little research on the performance of socially responsible activities, including economic and environmental responsibility activities in internationally diversified firms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of CSR activities on management performance. For this evaluation, an empirical analysis was conducted with a total of 2,520 cases, selected from companies listed on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index market for six years from 2013 to 2018. As proxies for management performance, financial date such as a total asset net profit ratio and a total asset-operating ratio were used. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to test hypotheses. The results of this analysis indicated that firms in the CSR outstanding group are significantly higher than other groups in management performances. In addition, CSR activities of internationally diversified firms positively influence their total asset net profit ratio and total asset-operating ratio. The results suggested that CSR activities of these firms can play a significant role in enhancing management performances amid the economic status of Korea, where a degree of export dependency is high.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.235-245
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• 2012

The purpose of this paper is to develop an online analytical processing (OLAP) database system for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) growth support. In this paper, we made a model of measuring SME size first. The model is composed of five determinants of firm growth such as employment, sales, the amount of export, own technology, and the ratio of R&D expenditure to sales. Second, we designed the FREQUENCY dimension table which will make staged support of R&D expenditure. We developed the OLAP database system by using three dimensions including the FREQUENCY dimension, and using the model of measuring SME size. Also we assessed past decisions on R&D expenditure support in the Small Business R&D Support Project by using the OLAP database system.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1-29
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• 2013

This paper examines the effect of trade liberalization or globalization, more broadly, on plants' growth as well as on "bi-polarization". To do so, we reviewed the possible theoretical mechanisms put forward by recent heterogeneous firm trade theories, and provided available micro-evidence from existing empirical studies on Korean manufacturing sector. Above all, the empirical evidence provided in this paper strongly suggests that globalization promoted growth of Korean manufacturing plants. Specifically, evidence suggests that exporting not only increases within-plant productivity but also promotes introduction of new products and dropping of old products. However, the empirical evidence also suggest that globalization has some downsides: widening productivity differences across plants and rising wage inequality between skilled and unskilled workers. Specifically, trade liberalization widens the initial productivity differences among plants through learning from export market participation as well as through interactions between exporting and R&D, both of which increase plants' productivity. We also show that there is only a small group of large and productive "superstar" plants engaged in both R&D and exporting activity, which can fully utilize the potential benefits from globalization. Finally, we also show evidence that trade liberalization interacts with innovation to increase the skilled-unskilled wage inequality.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.431-465
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• 2011

Focusing on open innovation which is regarded as an important framework for strengthening technological innovation capabilities, in this study empirical analysis is conducted on Korean manufacturing companies, particularly based on the survey results of 149 domestic manufacturing companies that carry out innovation activities in order to identify influence factors for open innovation activities. Analysis on the influence factors of open innovation activities categorized into characteristics of environment, firm-specific characteristics, and characteristics of institutions revealed that characteristics of environment in terms of the degree of market competition and technological changes influence outside-in open innovation activities. Such results suggest that companies respond to increased market competition or technological changes by promoting research and development (R&D) and maintaining or acquiring market competitiveness through introduction of external technology and utilization of external information by means of research collaboration, user innovation, and so on. In terms of firm-specific characteristics, outside-in open innovation activities are influence by R&D personnel, R&D investment, number of international business, export, and openness of corporate culture while inside-out open innovation activities are influenced by characteristics of international organization and CEO's capabilities. In order for companies to strengthen outside-in open innovation activities emphasis on research personnel, R&D input factors such as research funds are necessary whereas to increase inside-out open innovation activities organization solely responsible for international affairs should be established while the CEO needs to focus on open and cooperative entrepreneurship rather than internal technological innovation activities. In terms of characteristics of institutions, outside-in innovation activities are influenced by technological networking whereas inside-out innovation activities are influenced by networking for development of technology and the presence in industrial cluster. This means that the government needs to establish industrial clusters and try to expand technological networking to facilitate open innovation activities.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.7
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• pp.361-367
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• 2020

Researching the influence and role of CEO overconfidence to dividend policy is important for stock market investors. Therefore, this study was conducted to find out the relationship between CEO overconfidence and dividend policy in industrial enterprises in Vietnam. Data collected from 222 industry enterprises listed on the Vietnam Stock Exchange from 2012 to 2018. Data is collected on financial statements of listed companies. GLS model with panel data is used to analyze regression results. The results show that CEO overconfidence has dividend yield higher than CEO non-overconfidence. At the same time, the dividend payout ratio of enterprises has no difference between CEO overconfidence and CEO non-overconfidence. The results also showed that revenue growth has a positive impact on dividend yield in small enterprises, but negative impact on dividend payout in large enterprises. Research results by firm size have similar results with the general analysis for all enterprises. At the same time, the analysis of ownership type shows that CEO overconfidence has a positive impact on dividend yield of non-state enterprises without affecting other types of enterprises. From these results, the authors also made a number of recommendations to help investors choose businesses to invest in accordance with their strategies.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.99-128
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• 1998

The increasing importance of IT rose to the top of list of marketing managers' key concerns and IT has been used widely in performing various marketing activities and decisions. However, little was known about how to employ IT in various marketing activities and how to use IT as a strategic marketing means. Also, comprehensive empirical studies have rarely been conducted. This study examines the effectiveness of integrative use of marketing and IT. More specifically, this study attempts to identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of marketing information systems. The manufacturing firms listed in the Korean Stock Market were surveyed. the major findings of this study are as follows. First, the variables of organizational characteristics such as formalization of decision making cooperation between marketing function and IS function, and degree of decentralization were significantly related to the success of marketing information systems. The variables of user highly associated with the success of marketing information systems. Second, it was also found that the support capability of marketing information systems is the major factor of the effectiveness of marketing information systems. Third, the variables marketing function and IS function, and ratio of export sales to total sales were three variables such as marketing knowledge of marketing managers, cooperation were the main factors to affect the users' satisfaction with the information system. These results imply that, in order to increase the effectiveness of marketing information systems, a firm should enhance a cooperation between marketing function and IS function, diversify the support capability of IS, and strengthen the computer mind and computer knowledge of end-uses.