IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v45y2022ics1544612321002506.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does the implementation of internal controls promote firm profitability? Evidence from private Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Author

Listed:
  • Vu, Quang
  • Nga, Nguyen Thi Thuy

Abstract

Previous studies have not investigated whether firms can use internal control (IC) systems as a means to promote firm profitability. Applying an instrumental variable approach to the data on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Vietnamese manufacturing industry, this paper discovered that implementing ICs does improve firm profitability. This result is driven by several mechanisms. First, the use of ICs decreases bribery. Second, although ICs do not enable access to credit, they advance the formalization process and help firms gain government support. This suggests that in the context of ineffective institutions, firms can improve their financial performance by applying the appropriate IC systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Vu, Quang & Nga, Nguyen Thi Thuy, 2022. "Does the implementation of internal controls promote firm profitability? Evidence from private Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:45:y:2022:i:c:s1544612321002506
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.102178
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612321002506
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2021.102178?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Huong, Vu Van & Cuong, Ly Kim, 2019. "Does government support promote SME tax payments? New evidence from Vietnam," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    2. Vu, Quang & Tran, Tuyen Quang, 2021. "Government financial support and firm productivity in vietnam," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    3. Chalmers, Keryn & Hay, David & Khlif, Hichem, 2019. "Internal control in accounting research: A review," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 80-103.
    4. Mushtaq H. Khan, 2006. "Determinants of Corruption in Developing Countries: The Limits of Conventional Economic Analysis," Chapters, in: Susan Rose-Ackerman (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption, chapter 8, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Ping Li & Wei Shu & Qingquan Tang & Ying Zheng, 2019. "Internal control and corporate innovation: evidence from China," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(5), pages 622-642, September.
    6. Annukka Jokipii, 2010. "Determinants and consequences of internal control in firms: a contingency theory based analysis," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 14(2), pages 115-144, May.
    7. Lawson, Bradley P. & Muriel, Leah & Sanders, Paula R., 2017. "A survey on firms' implementation of COSO's 2013 Internal Control–Integrated Framework," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 30-43.
    8. Huong Vu & Tuyen Quang Tran & Tuan Nguyen & Steven Lim, 2018. "Corruption, Types of Corruption and Firm Financial Performance: New Evidence from a Transitional Economy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(4), pages 847-858, April.
    9. Goedhuys, Micheline & Sleuwaegen, Leo, 2013. "The Impact of International Standards Certification on the Performance of Firms in Less Developed Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 87-101.
    10. Amadou Boly, 2018. "On the Short- and Medium-Term Effects of Formalisation: Panel Evidence from Vietnam," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(4), pages 641-656, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Skrynkovskyy, Ruslan & Pavlenchyk, Nataliia & Tsyuh, Svyatoslav & Zanevskyy, Ihor & Pavlenchyk, Anatoliі, 2022. "Economic-mathematical model of enterprise profit maximization in the system of sustainable development values," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 8(4), December.
    2. Emilia Herman & Kinga-Emese Zsido, 2023. "The Financial Sustainability of Retail Food SMEs Based on Financial Equilibrium and Financial Performance," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Wu, Jinshun & Wu, Luyao, 2023. "Impacts of digital inclusive finance on household entrepreneurship," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Duy, Nguyen Vu & Tran, Tien Quang, 2021. "The influence of international standards on SME tax compliance in Vietnam," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    2. Le, Hoi Quoc & Vu, Thi Phuong Lien & Do, Vu Phuong Anh & Do, Anh Duc, 2022. "The enduring effect of formalization on firm-level corruption in Vietnam: The mediating role of internal control," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 364-373.
    3. Oliver Henk, 2020. "Internal control through the lens of institutional work: a systematic literature review," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 239-273, September.
    4. Minh, Thanh Nguyen & Quang, Tuyen Tran, 2022. "The effects of corporate social responsibility on firm efficiency: Inside the matrix of corporate finance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    5. Dr.Muganda Munir Manini & Dr.Umulkher Ali Abdillahi, 2023. "Does the Internal Control Environment Drive the Performance of Cooperatives? A PLS-SEM Perspective," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(7), pages 721-745, July.
    6. Anh Ngoc Mai & Huong Van Vu & Bien Xuan Bui & Tuyen Quang Tran, 2019. "The lasting effects of innovation on firm profitability: panel evidence from a transitional economy," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(1), pages 3417-3436, January.
    7. Minh, Thanh Nguyen & Ngoc, Anh Mai & Tuan, Anh Nguyen & Dao, Tung Nguyen, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility, market rivalry and firm leverage: new evidence from a fixed-effect quantile regression approach," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    8. Do, Tien Kim Thi & Van Vu, Huong, 2021. "Does formalization increase firm investment in human capital? New evidence from Vietnam," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    9. Tu Thanh Hoai & Nguyen Phong Nguyen, 2022. "Internal Control Systems and Performance of Emerging Market Firms: The Moderating Roles of Leadership Consistency and Quality," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    10. Truong, Thao Duc & Bui, Phuong Cam, 2022. "The lasting effect of formalization on credit access: Evidence from Vietnamese private SMEs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    11. Van, Huong Vu & Van Dao, Le & Hoang, Lich Khac & Van Hien, Ngo, 2023. "The efficiency of government finanical expenditures before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-country investigation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    12. Anh Do, Vu Phuong & Bui, Quang Tuyen, 2022. "The influence of leadership personality on profitability and firm investment in human capital: The case of Vietnamese SMEs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
    13. Hiep, Tran Duc & Trung, Bui Hoang & Van Chien, Le, 2022. "Quantifying productivity gains from foreign direct investment: The mediating role of provincial institutional quality," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    14. Minh, Thanh Nguyen & Kim, Van Pham Thi & Ngoc, Anh Mai, 2021. "Political connections, government support and SME tax payments: A note from fixed-effect quantile regression," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    15. Lurdes Martins & Jorge Cerdeira & Aurora A.C. Teixeira, 2020. "Does corruption boost or harm firms’ performance in developing and emerging economies? A firm‐level study," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(8), pages 2119-2152, August.
    16. Alice Medioli & Pier Luigi Marchini & Tatiana Mazza, 2024. "The impact of corruption and public governance quality on family firm business strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(1), pages 55-69, January.
    17. Blind, Knut & Mangelsdorf, Axel & Pohlisch, Jakob, 2018. "The effects of cooperation in accreditation on international trade: Empirical evidence on ISO 9000 certifications," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 50-59.
    18. Patricia AUGIER & Olivier CADOT & Marion DOVIS, 2016. "Regulatory harmonization, profits, and productivity: Firm-level evidence from Morocco," Working Papers P162, FERDI.
    19. Lakshmi, Geeta & Saha, Shrabani & Bhattarai, Keshab, 2021. "Does corruption matter for stock markets? The role of heterogeneous institutions," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 386-400.
    20. Nhat Minh Tran & Thu Thuy Nguyen & Thi Phuong Linh Nguyen & Anh Trong Vu & Thi Thanh Hoa Phan & Thi Hong Tham Nguyen & Ngoc Diep Do & Anh Tuan Phan, 2022. "Female Managers and Corruption in SMEs: A Comparison Between Family and Nonfamily SMEs in Vietnam," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internal controls (ICs); Bribery; Credit access; Firm profitability; Vietnam;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • M42 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Auditing

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:45:y:2022:i:c:s1544612321002506. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.