• Title/Summary/Keyword: Trade Cost

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Economic Efficiency of the Korean Container Terminals: A Stochastic Cost Frontier Approach

  • Seokwoo Jake Choi;Gi-Su Kim;BoKyung Kim
    • Journal of Korea Trade
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.23-44
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    • 2022
  • Purpose - Recent issues such as vessel enlargement, strengthening of environmental regulations, and port smartization are expected to increase costs and intensify competition in the port industry. In the new normal era, when external growth has reached its limit, the efficient operation of ports is becoming indispensable for achieving sustainable growth. This study aims to identify the determinants of inefficiency by examining the cost structure and efficiency of container terminals in Korea and furthermore propose the political implications to derive the maximization of efficiency. Design/methodology - This study estimates the cost function of container terminal operators and identifies the efficiency of container terminals using stochastic cost frontier (SCF) in the first stage. In the second step, the SCF results are compared with the data envelopment analysis (DEA). Last, this paper proposes efficiency determinants on container terminal operation to establish appropriate strategies. Out of the 29 container terminal operators in South Korea, 13 operators participated in the survey. The translog cost function was estimated utilizing a total of 116 observations collected over the 2007-2017 period. Findings - Empirical analysis shows that economies of scale exist in Korea's container ports, which provides a rationale for the government's policy to establish the global terminal operator by integrating small terminal operators to enhance competitiveness. In addition, as a result of the determinants analysis, container throughput, weight of direct employment costs, and labour cost share have positive effects on improving cost efficiency, while inefficiency increases as the length of quay increases. More specifically, cost efficiency improves as the proportion of direct employment costs to outsourcing service costs increases. Originality/value - This study contributes to analyzing the inefficiency factors of container terminals through efficiency analysis with respect to a cost function. In addition, this study proposes the practical and political implications, such as establishing a long-term manpower pool, the application of the hybrid liner terminal system, and the construction of a statistical data system, to improve the cost inefficiency of terminal operators.

A Study on the Using Status and Improvements of Electronic Trade Finance in Korea (전자무역금융의 전면 실시에 따른 이용현황과 개선방안)

  • Lee, Jin Woo;Park, Kwang So
    • THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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    • v.59
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    • pp.137-157
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    • 2013
  • The Electronic Trade Finance not only has with the trait which is simple procedures, low cost but also easier access to using statistics compare to formerly paper based system. In Korea, all of trade finance system will be changed to electronic base by February 2014. The purpose of this research finds the using status and problems of the electronic local L/C and electronic purchase certificate, and suggests several improvements. First, the whole trade finance system should improve in terms of simple procedures, especially small and medium companies can use the system sufficient maximum limit. Second, the organizers, KTNET, KITA etc, need to the new electronic trade finance system promote to customers and training program for early settlement. It also has to manage at an unified system between IT and tex authorities. Third, small and medium size companies still think the charge for using high, so it need to make a resonable charge for using the electronic system to persuasive extent reasonable about it.

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Credit Rationing and Trade Credit Use by Farmers in Vietnam

  • LE, Ninh Khuong;PHAN, Tu Anh;CAO, Hon Van
    • The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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    • v.8 no.4
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    • pp.171-180
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this paper is to estimate the impact of credit rationing on the amount of trade credit used by farmers in Vietnam. This study employs a survey data collected through direct interviews with heads of 1,065 rice households randomly selected out of provinces and city in the Mekong River Delta (MRD). In each province or city, the village with the largest area of land devoted to rice production from the district with the largest area of land devoted to rice production was picked up for survey. In each village, 200 rice farmers were randomly chosen for interview. Based on a probit model and a semi-parametric propensity score matching (PSM) estimator while controlling socio-demographic traits of rice farmers, the estimated results show that non-credit rationed farmers use less trade credit to finance production compared to their credit rationed counterparts. Moreover, the amount of trade credit used by farmers decreases as the degree of credit rationing drops. This paper provides evidence of the substitutive relationship between bank credit and trade credit. It also implicitly suggests that banks can drive trade creditors out of the market if they manage to solve the problem of information asymmetry and transaction cost.

A Study on Network Construction Strategies for Long-Haul Low-Cost Carrier Operations

  • Choi, Doo-Won;Han, Neung-Ho
    • Journal of Korea Trade
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    • v.25 no.8
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    • pp.57-74
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    • 2021
  • Purpose - This study aims to analyze the characteristics of network construction by Norwegian Air and AirAsia X, which are recognized as leading airlines in the long-haul LCC market. Based on this analysis, this study intends to provide implications for networking strategies for Korean LCCs that seek to enter the long-haul market when the aviation market stabilizes again upon the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology - To conduct the network analysis on long-haul low-cost airlines, the Official Airline Guide (OAG) Schedule Analyzer was used to extract long-haul data of Norwegian Air and AirAsia X. To analyze the trend of the long-haul route network, we obtained the data from 3 separate years between 2011 and 2019. The network was analyzed using UCINET 6.0 in order to examine the network structure of long-haul low-cost airlines and the growth trend of each stage. Findings - Analyzing the network of long-haul routes by visualizing the network structure of low-cost carriers showed the following results. In its early years, Norwegian Air's long-haul route network, centering on regional airports in Spain and Sweden, connected European regions, the Middle East, and Africa. As time passed, however, the network expanded and became steadily strong as the airline connected airports in other European countries to North America and Asia. In addition, in 2011, AirAsia X showed links to parts of Europe, such as London and Paris, the Middle East and India, and Australia and Northeast Asia, centering on the Kuala Lumpur Airport. Although the routes in Europe were suspended, the network continued to expand while concentrating on routes of less than approximately 7,000 km. It was found that instead of giving up on ultra-long-haul routes such as Europe, the network was further expanded in Northeast Asia, such as the routes in Korea and Japan centering on China. Originality/value - Until the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Norwegian Air actively expanded long-haul routes, resulting in the number of long-haul routes quintupling since 2011. The unfortunate circumstance, wherein the world aviation market was rendered stagnant due to the outbreak of COVID-19, hit Norwegian Air harder than any other low-cost carriers. However, in the case of AirAsia X, it was found that it did not suffer as much damage as Norwegian Air because it initially withdrew from unprofitable routes over 7,000 km and grew by gradually increasing profitable destinations over shorter distances. When the COVID-19 pandemic ends and the aviation market stabilizes, low-cost carriers around the world, including Korea, that enter the long-haul route market will need to employ strategies to analyze the marketability of potential routes and to launch the routes that yield the highest profits without being bound by distance. For stable growth, it is necessary to take a conservative stance; first, by reviewing the business feasibility of the operating a small number of highly profitable routes, and second, by gradually expanding these routes.

A Study on Trade Automation in Korea (한국의 무역자동화에 관한 고찰)

  • 전재경;이재승
    • Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.139-150
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    • 1998
  • Due to development of science and telecommunication with wide-spread computer supply, it could be done through computer automatically instead of manpower-work for paper transportation & paper approval. It is developed to so-called Factory Automation. Further, it is developed to Office Automation. Trading companies & concerned trade authorities are interested in Trade Automation that such technique is applied to trade work. Generally, Trade Automation means to realize paperless trade by exchanging electronic papers through inter-computers after concerned trade operators transformed various papers to electronic papers that computer could read. In case Trade Automation fix in the trade business, it is expected one of innovations among traditional paper work of trade business, namely without going import-export authorities, Customs office, Banks. Shipping companies, Marine insurance companies on hand-carrying papers, it could be fast, simple, correct to finish every trade procedures such as commercial business, foreign currency, customs clearance, transportations, insurance. terms of payment, etc., with Electronic Data Interchange through computer facilities. Especially, telecommunication for trade form could be helpful to proceed trade paper with one-run-method Further we can anticipate 6 effects for Trade Automation as belows : First, as explained just above articles, with completion for Trade Automation, every trade procedures can be done by computer. so, time to work can be diminished. namely. logistics cost including accessory costs for trade procedures can be saved much. Second, viewing to private enterprise, effect of Office Automation can be maximized and rapid, correct exchange for various trade informations could raise efficiency of enterprise management establishing rational production, storage, transportation and could raise competition improving standard for consumers's service. Third, establishing Trade Automation systems makes it easier piling-up of harbor cargo by pre-transmission of electronic paper & trade informations make it possible to finish customs clearance in advance and can be dispatched upon cargo arrival. Fourth, most of concerned trade authorities such as import-export approval office. financial authorities, transport & insurance companies concentrated in Metropolitan area(Seoul, In -Cheon, Kyung-Ki). Therefore, in case Trade Automation could be realized. it is possible to proceed trade business instantly in every country area by computer facilities. Also. it contribute well-balanced development for suburb. region area by suburb dispersion of trading companies. Fifth, on the way to Trade Automation establishment & its enlargement process. producing enormous demand for over-all telecommunication such as hardware. software. network makes opportunity to progress telecommunication industry & concerned industries. Finally. Trade Automation accelerate change of employment structure leading unnecessary labors on the industries of office & logistics to manufacturing area.

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The Effects of ESG Performance on the Relationship between Tax Risk and Cost of Capital: An Empirical Analysis of Korean Multinational Corporations

  • Jeong-Yeon Kang;Im-Hyeon Kim
    • Journal of Korea Trade
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.1-18
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    • 2023
  • Purpose - Using a sample of Korean multinational corporations, we examine whether the relationship between tax risk and the implied cost of capital discriminates between the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) of highly rated firms. Design/methodology - Firms with high tax risks have an increased uncertainty of future cash flows. Therefore, as the volatility of future cash flow increases, information asymmetry and the required return increases. Highly rated ESG firms can reduce information asymmetry, thereby weakening the positive relationship between tax risk and cost of capital. We employ the standard deviation of the cash effective tax rate as proxy of tax risk. We utilize the ESG rating data of the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS). We use a PEG model, MPEG model, and GM model to measure the implied cost of capital. Findings - We find a positive association between the implied cost of capital and tax risk. The positive relationship between tax risk and the implied cost of capital weakens in highly rated ESG firms. Highly rated ESG firms prefer a stable tax position to invest after-tax cash flows into sustainable management. Therefore, the negative effects of tax risk on cost of capital can be reduced. Originality/value - This study provides empirical evidence that ESG activities can mitigate the negative impact of tax risk on the cost of capital for Korean multinational corporations. In a business environment where ESG activities are more important, the empirical results that ESG activities can reduce the corporate risk of Korean FDI companies are expected to provide implications for the ESG activities of multinational corporations.

A Study on the Determinants of User's Satisfaction at e-Trade Portal Sites in Korean Small and Medium Enterprises (중소기업의 무역포탈사이트 이용만족도에 영향을 미치는 요인에 관한 연구)

  • 문희철;임성범
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.4 no.3
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    • pp.21-40
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    • 2004
  • Trade portal site is one of the tools which make it possible for small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) to manage international trade activities more efficiently by using the newest information and telecommunication technology. So Korean SMEs should utilize trade portal sites more actively to promote global competitive power. Based on the theory of service quality and existing researches related to using information technology, this paper analyzed the primary factors which affect user's utilization satisfaction in using trade portal sites. According to the results of the empirical study on actual users of the representative trade portal sites by multiple regression analysis, the primary factors, such as service quality, government policy and cost factor have affected user's utilization satisfaction in using trade portal sites. And user's utilization satisfaction have positive effect on continuous using intention. These research results will provide many useful insights to trade portal site managers, e-trade system developers and government policy makers.

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A decision support system (DSS) for construction risk efficiency in Taiwan

  • Tsai, Tsung-Chieh;Li, Hsiang-Wen
    • Smart Structures and Systems
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.249-255
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    • 2018
  • Many studies in risk management have been focused on management process, contract relation, and risk analysis in the past decade, but very few studies have addressed project risks from the perspective of risk efficiency. This study started with using Fault Tree Analysis to develop a framework for the decision-making support system of risk management from the perspective of risk efficiency, in order for the support system to find risk strategies of optimal combination for the project manager by the trade-off between project risk and cost of project strategies. Comprehensive and realistic risk strategies must strive for optimal decisions that minimize project risks and risk strategies cost while addressing important data such as risk causes, risk probability, risk impact and risk strategies cost. The risk management in the construction phase of building projects in Taiwan upon important data has been analyzed, that provided the data for support system to include 247 risk causes. Then, 17 risk causes were extracted to demonstrates the decision-making support system of risk management from the perspective of risk efficiency in building project of Taiwan which could reach better combination type of risk strategies for the project manager by the trade-off between risk cost and project risk.

Efficient Application of Multi-Trade Contract Method to Public Construction Project (공공건설사업 직할시공제 적용의 문제점 및 효율적 적용 방안)

  • Chang, Chul-Ki
    • Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.35-44
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    • 2013
  • Multi-trade Contract Method was introduced as a means of cutting down construction cost of public housing for low income people. Before a specific project delivery method is applied to large public construction project, it is necessary to discuss all the issues raised up from all the parties in construction industry and all the issues which can impact project performance. Thus the interviews were conducted with industrial professionals from diverse organizations and previous studies were investigated to figure out how this newly introduced project delivery method may impact owner's role and responsibility and project performance in terms of cost, schedule, quality and risk. Under the Multi-trade Contract Method, project owner's management tasks will be highly increased, so it should be checked out if the owner can do its role and responsibility. Public owner's organization also needs to be changed and proper project management procedure and system need to be established. In addition, for efficient application of Multi-trade Contract Method, public owner should consider diverse management approach to deliver the project, and how to select and maintain qualified specialty trades.