Economics Commons^™

Shifting Production, Rising Value Added: A Global Value Chain Perspective On Sectoral Competitiveness In Asean, Van Chung Nguyen

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The ongoing relocation of production activities from China to Southeast Asia, driven by geopolitical and supply chain restructuring, has created new opportunities for ASEAN economies to enhance their positions in regional and global value chains. This study examines trends in cooperation and competition in value-added creation among ASEAN countries during 2015–2025 using the Multiregional Input–Output (MRIO) analysis. The results show significant differences in sectoral value-added growth across ASEAN members. Vietnam and Cambodia recorded the highest growth rates, particularly in manufacturing industries, whereas Singapore maintained its leading position in high-value and technology-intensive sectors. In contrast, Thailand and Malaysia experienced moderate growth, …

Institutional Barriers To Agro-Food Export Upgrading: Evidence From Indonesia’S Modified Cassava Flour Sector, Arie Kusuma Paksi, Fiya Ainur Rohmatika, Melvin Jabar

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The growing global demand for functional and sustainable foods has prompted developing countries to explore alternative exports, including Indonesia’s modified cassava flour (MOCAF). Despite its environmental benefits and gluten-free properties, MOCAF’s penetration into European markets remains limited. This study examines institutional barriers constraining MOCAF exports using Scott’s framework of regulative, normative, and cognitive institutions. A qualitative approach combined in- depth interviews, town hall meetings, and secondary data from governmental and international sources. Findings show that institutional constraints, rather than product quality alone, hinder European Union market entry and reduce competitiveness. Regulative barriers include fragmented logistics and high certification costs. Normative …

Digital Privacy In Marketing And Advertising: A Review Of Evolving Consumer Concerns, Stakeholder Dynamics, And Theoretical Perspectives, Galvin Kuan Sian Lee

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The intensification of data-driven advertising has heightened public scrutiny of digital privacy and exposed persistent contradictions in consumer behavior. This structured integrative narrative review critically synthesizes contemporary research on the privacy paradox in digital advertising, with emphasis on consumer privacy concerns, stakeholder tensions, trust formation, transparency, perceived control, and privacy-reconfiguring advertising ecosystems. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence from marketing, information systems, and digital policy research, the review maps five key domains: the evolution of privacy concerns; multi-theoretic perspectives explaining privacy-related behaviors; stakeholder tensions among consumers, advertisers, and regulators; the effect of privacy perceptions on trust and engagement; and the role of …

How Relevant Is Money Supply? A Cross-Country And Cross-Variable Analysis, Ahmad Alharbi, Moid U. Ahmad

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Extensive discussions have been conducted on traditional and new-age macroeconomic theories in the context of the money supply and its determinants. This article contributes to the literature by analyzing money supply and its interactions with four other macroeconomic variables: GDP, exchange rates, interest rates, and prices. Using annual panel data from 55 countries from 2000 to 2023, the study applies various regression techniques and causal analyses to assess money supply determinants. Most analytical techniques indicated a significant relationship between money supply, national income, and foreign exchange rates.

The Contributors, Marites Tiongco

DLSU Business & Economics Review

No abstract provided.

Labor Market Outcomes Realized By Senior High School Graduates: A Research Note, Francine Ysabel D. Gañgan, Tereso S. Tullao, Jr.

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The study evaluates the impact of the K-12 reform on providing employment opportunities to senior high school (SHS) graduates. It employed a novel strategy for causal inference using two rounds of the merged Family Income and Expenditure Survey-Labor Force Survey (FIES-LFS) in 2015 and 2023. High school graduates from FIES-LFS 2015 form the control group, whereas SHS graduates from FIES-LFS 2023 form the treatment group. This design provided a clear demonstration of the causal effect of graduating from SHS on their labor market outcomes. The study performed a two-stage methodology: propensity score matching and adjusted multivariate regression after achieving matching …

Institutions, Innovation, And Structural Transformation: Advancing Business And Economics Research In Emerging Economies, Marites Tiongco

DLSU Business & Economics Review

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing Digital Technology Adoption And Use Among Msmes In Indonesia, Andry Manodotua Panjaitan, Niko Sudibjo, Cahya Pulupi Meilani

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The purpose of this study is to see how attitudes toward behavior, subjective norms, and digital technology literacy affect adoption intentions and their impact on digital technology usage behavior in small and medium enterprises in Indonesia. This study used 532 MSME samples and tested them using SEM PLS analysis. The test findings showed that eight proposed hypotheses were accepted, and one was rejected. Digitally literate MSME owners and leaders can increase market awareness and set clear digital transformation goals for their companies. Furthermore, with government support for technology in MSMEs, digital technology is expected to be used not just for …

Decomposing Crowding Out Effect In The Philippines: Leveraging Fiscal Policy To Drive Inclusive Growth, John Paolo R. Rivera, Mary Grace R. Agner, Viory Yvonne T. Janeo, John Angelo F. Cristobal

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Fiscal stimulus programs have substantively kept the Philippine economy afloat during crises and in facilitating recovery. In pursuing steeper growth, there is a tendency to harness fiscal policy at the expense of crowding out private investment and consumption, which defeats the ultimate purpose of such policy. Using time series analysis, we assess the degree of crowding out effect in the Philippines and its implications for the effectiveness of fiscal policy as a macroeconomic stabilization and growth driver tool. Although scholarly literature has used aggregate government spending in probing the existence of a crowding out effect on aggregate investment and consumption …

Multifaceted Skepticism: A Comprehensive Approach In Auditing Practice, Ida Ayu Budhananda Munidewi, Unti Ludigdo, Ali Djamhuri, Wuryan Andayani

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This research uses a modified grounded theory approach to understand the behavior of auditors in Indonesia who have an Eastern cultural background in applying professional skepticism. The research results reveal that auditor behavior in practice applies multifaceted skepticism. Multifaceted skepticism refers to the idea that professional skepticism in auditing is not a one-dimensional approach. That recognizes the complexity of the audit environment and the need for auditors to consider various factors when applying their skepticism. Multifaceted skepticism brings us to a less simplistic view of professional skepticism, which until now has only been seen as an on-or-off switch. Instead, this …

Social Message In Advertising And Social Change: An Empirical Investigation Of Relationships, Iqra Manzoor, Zia- Ul-Haq

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This study was carried out to investigate consumer behavior toward advertisements that convey social messages. Not many studies have focused on the social message in ads and the subjective well-being of customers regarding such ads. To study this gap, the paper examined the relationship between (a) the attitude towards the ad with a social message and the purchase intention of the consumer and (b) the purchase intention of the consumer and their subjective well-being. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to study the interrelationships within the proposed model. The data was collected through an experiment and qualitative survey among university …

Leveraging Capital Structures Of Philippine Publicly Listed Companies, Michael Angelo A. Cortez

DLSU Business & Economics Review

In this study, I revisit the determinants of corporate capital structures of publicly listed businesses in the Philippines, emphasizing major characteristics previously identified in academic literature, including tangibility, profitability, company size, non-debt tax shields, and growth. I investigate how companies’ financial actions correspond with or deviate from traditional capital structure theories within the context of the Philippine economy’s reliance on short-term, high-cost lending and its evolving capital market. Using a descriptive-exploratory approach to analyze 210 observations from 21 businesses listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange from 2014 to 2023, I performed a quantitative analysis of construct relationship using cross-sectional generalized …

Examining The Volunteering Behavior Of Filipino Youth Using The Extended Theory Of Planned Behavior, Reynaldo B. Bautista, Christine Joy A. Ballada, Joy Rabo

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Young people are vital human resources who can significantly contribute to social change through volunteerism. This study sought to examine Filipino youth’s volunteering behavior using an extended theory of planned behavior with behavioral modeling by family and peers as additional antecedents of volunteering intention. Participants in this study were undergraduate students of De La Salle University – Manila. A total of 438 students (60% female, 39% male, and 1% preferring not to say) aged 17 to 23 years old (M = 19.60 years, SD = 1.12) participated in the study. The scales were found to have good internal consistency reliability. …

Determinants Of Bangladeshi Banking Inefficiency: Do Non-Performing Loans And Basel Iii Affect Banking Inefficiency?, Mohammad Abdul Matin Chowdhury, S. M. Shamsul Alam, Wan Rohaida Wan Husain, Rafikul Islam, Anwar Hossain

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The efficiency of commercial banking is a crucial determinant of the longevity of the financial system. High credit risk is a significant feebleness that leads to high non-performing loans (NPLs), which reduce banking efficiency in any economy. In this context, this study aims to identify the determinants of banking inefficiency in Bangladesh. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique was employed to measure banking efficiency, whereas TOBIT regression was performed to identify the determinants of inefficiency of 38 commercial banks from 2016–2022. Findings demonstrated size, ownership structure and orientation, capital structure regulations (BASEL III), GDP growth, and inflation as significant determinants …

Budget Deficit Spending Causes Inflation, Roberto B. Raymundo, Paulynne J. Castillo

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Using the Cochrane-Orcutt iterative procedure, the paper provides strong statistical evidence that inflation is a monetary phenomenon caused by budget deficit spending when the central bank buys government debt. Regression results validate that increasing budget deficits lead to the issuance of more debt securities the central bank uses to back the creation of new money. The central bank purchases government securities from commercial banks to implement expansionary monetary policy. The increase in money supply is not possible without the issuance of government debt securities, which, in turn, is only undertaken by the Bureau of Treasury when it finances budget deficits. …

Editor's Note, Marites Tiongco

DLSU Business & Economics Review

No abstract provided.

Bed Allocation Model For Infection Control During A Pandemic, Rosemary R. Seva, Dennis E. Cruz, Lourdes Marie Tejero

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This study proposes a model of allocating beds in a hospital considering infection control during a pandemic. The problem was formulated using the quadratic assignment problem (QAP) in a multi-period planning horizon. The main objective is to

minimize the spread of infection by maximizing the total distance (TD) between areas assigned to the pandemic and non- pandemic patients. Model validation using GAMS showed that the assignment of patient groups to areas is determined by

the arrival rates of patients and the area’s capacity. The model was able to identify periods when the sharing of space was more advantageous. The model’s …

The Follower Fallacy: Revisiting Engagement Hypothesis By Evidencing Nonlinear Dynamics In Influencer Marketing, Pranjal Jain, Pooja Jain, Anju Jain

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The traditional premise posits a positive correlation between influencer following (indegree) and engagement metrics, covering likes, shares, comments, and so forth. This study aims to either affirm or dent this engagement hypothesis. Through a methodical analysis of engagement data, this research recognizes potential deviations from the anticipated linear trajectory. Contrary to antecedental social influence, campaign customization, indegree composition, and post components define diverse nonlinear trajectories, empirically challenging the existing research assumptions underlying hypothesis. By evidencing the multifaceted dynamics of influencer engagement, this study offers critical insights for marketers navigating the complexities of contemporary digital marketing landscapes, facilitating the optimization of …

The Contributors, Marites Tiongco

DLSU Business & Economics Review

No abstract provided.

Determinants Of Corporate Capital Structure And The Emerging Role Of Intangibles And Innovation: The Case Of Japanese Corporations, Michael Angelo A. Cortez

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This study aims to modernize capital structure determinants in line with changing economic environments by incorporating the function of intangible assets, particularly innovations, into capital structure decisions. Traditional independent variables such as tangibility, firm size, profitability, growth opportunities, and profitability have been thoroughly researched, but the growing importance of intangible assets and innovations in the contemporary economy with advanced technology calls for a reassessment of their impact on capital structures. I examine 95 enterprises listed in the Nikkei over 11 years (2014–2024) using cross-section generalized least squares regression and dynamic panel data estimation. Results show that corporate leverage decisions (debt-to-equity …

Impact Of International Trade Competitiveness On Unemployment And Poverty Reduction In Ecowas Region, Ikubor Ofili Jude, Yahaya U. Isah, Ojih U. Abraham, Mazeli O. Mark, Abdul Y. Mary

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This study investigates the impact of trade competitiveness on unemployment and poverty in the ECOWAS region. The study relied on POLS, FE, and RE techniques to analyze the impact of export value and trade openness on unemployment and poverty in the ECOWAS region from 2001 to 2020. Annual time series data were sourced from World Bank and World Integrated Trade Solution databases. Major findings from this study show that unemployment responds strongly and favorably to export value and trade openness, whereas poverty responds favorably to trade openness. Further investigation revealed that trade regulatory environment is a determinant of unemployment and …

Assessing The Impact Of Shifting To Non- Combusted Alternatives To Reduce The Economic Cost Of Tobacco-Related Illnesses: A Cost Of Illness Approach In The Philippine Case, Christopher James Cabuay

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Smoking continues to be one of the leading causes of death and disability around the world. Recent health studies, however, have reported that these diseases are more likely to be due to the smoke from burning rather than the actual nicotine content. This study uses a cost-of-illness approach in estimating the cost of smoking-related illness in the Philippines and calculating the potential reduction in costs if a significant portion of the adult smoking population switches to the exclusive use of non-combusted alternatives (NCAs), which drastically reduces the risk of contracting smoking-related diseases. This study finds that cost reductions in the …

Vocational Education And Training (Tvet) And Its Impact On The Employment Prospects Of The Als Graduates, Martha Joy J. Abing, Mitzie Irene P. Conchada

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The pressure for technical-vocational education and training to deliver skilled and competent laborers has become a major concern in the labor market. As such, the strong desire to explore the effectiveness of TVET’s skills training programs remains. There is limited literature on the employability of the alternative learning system graduates in comparison to those graduates of the ALS program who did not pursue TVET. Using the dataset of the World Bank STEP Skills Measurement Household Survey for the Philippines, 2015-2016, this study seeks to determine whether completing TVET has significantly increased the employability of ALS graduates. Utilizing the method of …

A Review Of Climate Change And Its Financial Impact On The Transportation Sector, Ray Anthony L. Almonares

DLSU Business & Economics Review

In this paper, I review the existing literature on climate risks—both transition and physical—and their relationship with firm performance, with a specific focus on transportation finance. I find that the broad literature on carbon emissions and firm performance overlooks two critical characteristics of the global transportation sector: its heavy reliance on fossil fuels and the international scope of its operations. As a result, the conclusions drawn from this body of work may not be directly applicable to global transportation companies. Furthermore, I examine existing studies on extreme sea levels and the global maritime transportation sector, noting that these studies have …

Effect Of Trade Openness On Food Security In Economic Community Of West African States Region, Yahaya Umar Isah, Ikubor, Ofili Jude, Bernard, O. A., Zakari Saheed S., Ayodeji, S.

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This study investigates the impact of trade openness on food security in the ECOWAS trade zone. The study relied on the system GMM approach to analyze the impact of trade openness on overall and disaggregated components of food security in the ECOWAS trade zone during the period 2014 and 2021. Annual time series data were sourced from the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Bank Metadata base, and World Integrated Trade Solution. Major findings from the study reveal that trade openness has a significant positive impact on overall food security indicators. However, trade openness has not significantly impacted food availability and …

The Global Value Chain Effects Of Rcep: Estimating The Impact On The Philippines, Caesar B. Cororaton

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This paper extends the global CGE model results of Cororaton (2022) by disaggregating further the RCEP trade creation effects on the Philippines into global value chain (GVC) impacts. The GVC analysis indicates that the trade agreement in RCEP results in higher Philippine exports of US$ 2.8 billion in 2031, of which the increase in Philippine domestic value added is US$ 2.4 billion, significantly higher than the foreign value added of US$ 403 million. Electronic products contribute 67% of the value added generated within the Philippines. The increase in the import contents of Philippine exports is only US$ 413 million. Furthermore, …

The Role Of Social Capital In A Fishing Community’S Adaptation To Climate Change, Endah Saptutyningsih, Romi Bhakti Hartarto, Wanggi Jaung

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Climate change threatens the livelihoods of many communities around the world, including fishing communities. Low catches of fish caused by climate change may have devastating impacts on fishing communities, particularly on those poor communities with a lack of preparation for climate change adaptation. This study investigates how social capital influences fishermen’s support for climate change adaptation. We conducted a contingent valuation survey in a fishing community vulnerable to climate change in Lamongan, Indonesia. Our study results reveal that fishermen’s trust in a person and their community involvement played significant roles in their support for climate change adaptation. These study findings …

Exchange Rates And Fundamentals In Developed And Emerging Markets, Rocky K. Laurel

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This paper investigates the relationship between exchange rates on the one hand and money supply and real output on the other, then compares the relationship in developed and emerging markets. It tests the validity of the flexible price monetary model using in-sample analysis to determine if there are long-term relationships among the variables and out-of-sample analysis to compare the predictive performance of the model against a random walk. It finds evidence for a relationship as predicted by the model, contrary to long-standing findings of no relationship. It also finds some evidence that foreign exchange rates of emerging markets are more …

Access To Credit Loans And Firm-Level Productivity Of Philippine Manufacturing Firms: An Endogenous Switching Approach, Zandro M. Catacutan, Willington Onuh, Rodiel C. Ferrer

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Numerous studies have shown that financial development, such as access to credit loans, has a positive effect on firmlevel productivity. However, the relationship between financial development and productivity remains an area of interest because positive effects should at least be accompanied by evidence of the absence or presence of both heterogeneity and selection bias effects. We examine this relation using extensive cross-sectional data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey of firms with access to credit loans and firms without access to credit loans. We employ instrumental variables regression and endogenous switching regression approach to test for selection bias from firms’ …

Wage Gaps In The Philippines: A Decomposition Analysis, Neriza Chow, Maria Fe Carmen Dabbay, Mariel Monica Sauler

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The data show that, overall, the gaps between the 90th- and 10th-percentile average real wages have changed over time. The 90th percentile average wage steadily increased from 2007 to 2017, while the 10th-percentile average increased quite drastically after 2013. In this paper, we aim to analyze the changes in these real wage differentials further to have a better understanding of the factors that may affect the wage distribution, specifically the 90/10, 90/50, and 50/10 wage gap groupings, by employing a simple wage gap analysis and the Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition on the October rounds of the Philippine Labor Force Survey from 2007 …