THE EFFECTS OF TAX CHANGES ON TOBACCO CONSUMPTION IN THAILAND

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors affecting the likelihood of consuming and the amount spent on tobacco in Thailand. Heckman’s sample selection model is applied to data from the 2009 socio-economic survey of Thailand in order to determine the factors determining the decision to consume tobacco. Demand elasticities are then calculated using the Extended Linear Expenditure System (ELES). Age, household size, gender, occupation and tenure are found to be common factors that influence both the probability of tobacco smoking and expenditure on tobacco products. Income also plays a key roles in explaining the amount spent on tobacco. Demand for tobacco is found to be inelastic for Thai smokers.

Firm capabilities, business model design and performance of SMEs

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between firm capabilities, business model (BM) design, and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach The study provides a quantitative assessment of the proposed model using a sample of 411 small- and medium-sized enterprises. Heckman’s sample selection model is employed as an econometric framework. Findings The outcomes demonstrate that the adoption of a given BM is endogenous with respect to firm capabilities, different capabilities spur the adoption of different BM, and that different BM designs have variable impacts on firm performance. Research limitations/implications Some investigated variables were operationalized using proxies, and firm performance was measured based on a self-assessed scale. Practical implications Since different types of capabilities are at the bases of different BM designs that eventually reverberate on firm performance, SMEs should carefully balance their financial resources invested in the development of capabilities. Originality/value This study represents one of the first attempts to investigate the relationships between firm capabilities, BM design, and firm performance.

DETERMINANTS OF LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA

This paper examines how socio-demographic and health-lifestyle factors determine participation and duration of leisure-time physical activity in Malaysia. Based on the Malaysia Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance-1 data, Heckman's sample selection model is employed to estimate the probability to participate and duration on physical activity. Results indicate that gender, age, years of education and family illness history are significant in explaining participation probability in leisure-time physical activity. Gender, income level, smoking-status and years of education are significant in explaining the weekly duration conditional on participation, whereas smoking-status and years of education are significant in determining the unconditional level of leisure-time physical activity.