Date of Publication

2021

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics major in Industrial Economics

Subject Categories

Economics

College

School of Economics

Department/Unit

Economics

Defense Panel Chair

Tereso Tullao, Jr.

Defense Panel Member

Myrna S. Austria
Ma. Ella C. Oplas

Abstract/Summary

The decision of firms to innovate is influenced not only by their capacity to do so but also by the governing rules and regulations present in the business environment. Firms may or may not be hindered to pursue innovation when faced with such constraints depending on the informal transactions and agreements present between bureaucrats and firms. Building on existing literature, this study aims to determine whether institutional and regulatory constraints hinder or facilitate the technological innovation of firms. A probit regression model is employed to examine if firms innovate when interacting with their firm characteristics and the bureaucratic obstacles and practices found in their business environments. This study utilizes cross-sectional firm-level data from the 2015 World Bank Enterprise Survey for Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam. Across all countries, it was found that large firms are more likely to undergo both product and process innovation while their smaller counterparts are less likely to innovate. On the other hand, while institutional and regulatory constraints are perceived as obstacles to a firm's operations, it does not necessarily halt the likelihood of innovative activity. To hasten such lengthy procedures, firms partake in informal payments that were found to be deterrents of product innovation at the ASEAN level. However, perception of corruption as an obstacle was found to increase the chances of firms to innovate in both cross- and country-level analyses. Overall, corruption was found to be an intriguing behavioral aspect as a cultural norm in the business environment. Although corruption may hamper a firm’s innovative activity to some extent, this does not bar them from engaging in both product and process innovation.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Physical Description

133 leaves

Keywords

Technological innovations--Southeast Asia

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Embargo Period

6-1-2023

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