Household Stockpiling in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam

The current Covid-19 pandemic has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths globally. As a consequence, a myriad of concomitant economic and social activities has been frozen. Many countries have had to enforce border blockages, travel restrictions and quarantine. The pandemic has changed consumers' attitudes significantly and driven individuals and households to the state of panic buying. This paper examines the household stockpiling in Vietnam in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data across the country. The empirical results show that householders' education and household sizes are positively associated with the propensity that a household stocks up. However, the likelihood of a family stockpiling is lowered when members receive information about the pandemic from formal sources. There are also notable differences among the essential items being stockpiled by different households. Specifically, households living in urban areas or near (super)markets are more inclined to stock up food than other goods. By contrast, households with members working as doctors tend to spend a large portion of their stockpiling budget on medication.

Balancing the aquatic export supply chain strategy- A case study of the Vietnam pangasius industry

COVID-19 has called more attention to the importance of supply chains (SCs) in the global food market. The supply chain for Vietnamese pangasius is expanding at a rapid rate, and export shares are changing in the EU, the US, China, and ASEAN markets. Increased international competition in the whitefish market and other emerging Asian markets have forced the Vietnam pangasius industry to re-examine its SC strategy. The questions raised are: Should the pangasius industry employ a responsive SC, where aquatic products achieve international certificates and respond to consumer demand, or embrace a cost-efficient supply chain with large export volumes, low selling prices, and increased stakeholder profits? Based on the concepts of cost responsiveness and efficient frontier, using time series data for 2010–2019, we attempted to identify and describe the factors influencing Vietnamese pangasius strategic balance along this frontier. Vietnam's pangasius strategic balance is between a responsive supply chain and a cost-effective SC with greater emphasis on responsive supply chain management. However, there is insufficient attention to changing consumer trends and demands, and although the laws directing each node of the supply chain are numerous, there is inadequate enforcement and oversight of their implementation. The strategy of cost minimization is facing many challenges: the market share is declining in some major markets, profits have tightened due to low selling prices, there is competition with other whitefish species, and distribution channels have improved but remain inefficient. The recommendation requires the adoption of a supply chain strategy that balances between a cost-efficient and a responsive chain for the pangasius industry to remain competitive. • Vietnam's pangasius strategic balance is between responsive and cost-effective supply chain. • A need exists for enforcement and oversight of regulation of trends in consumer demand. • The strategy for a lower price fish improves sales as consumer income increases. • Constant tweakingof the supply chain is necessary to balance between a cost-efficient chain and a responsive chain. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing the aquatic export supply chain strategy- A case study of the Vietnam pangasius industry

COVID-19 has called more attention to the importance of supply chains (SCs) in the global food market. The supply chain for Vietnamese pangasius is expanding at a rapid rate, and export shares are changing in the EU, the US, China, and ASEAN markets. Increased international competition in the whitefish market and other emerging Asian markets have forced the Vietnam pangasius industry to re-examine its SC strategy. The questions raised are: Should the pangasius industry employ a responsive SC, where aquatic products achieve international certificates and respond to consumer demand, or embrace a cost-efficient supply chain with large export volumes, low selling prices, and increased stakeholder profits? Based on the concepts of cost responsiveness and efficient frontier, using time series data for 2010–2019, we attempted to identify and describe the factors influencing Vietnamese pangasius strategic balance along this frontier. Vietnam's pangasius strategic balance is between a responsive supply chain and a cost-effective SC with greater emphasis on responsive supply chain management. However, there is insufficient attention to changing consumer trends and demands, and although the laws directing each node of the supply chain are numerous, there is inadequate enforcement and oversight of their implementation. The strategy of cost minimization is facing many challenges: the market share is declining in some major markets, profits have tightened due to low selling prices, there is competition with other whitefish species, and distribution channels have improved but remain inefficient. The recommendation requires the adoption of a supply chain strategy that balances between a cost-efficient and a responsive chain for the pangasius industry to remain competitive.

The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Firms: Evidence from Vietnam (preprint)

This paper investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on firm performance, cash flows, cash holdings and leverage. Using quarterly data of 415 firms listed in the Vietnamese stock market, we find that the pandemic significantly impairs firm performance and its cash flows. In addition, firms are found to hold more cash and reduce their leverage ratios to combat the disease outbreak. Our study also provides the supportive evidence that the Covid-19 pandemic may not necessarily to affect firms across industries equally.