The Viet Nam SME database is a valuable source of information for researchers and policymakers interested in the dynamics and performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. The database contains biennial data from 2005 to 2015 on various aspects of SMEs, such as ownership, employment, sales, assets, innovation, access to finance, and business environment. The database is a collaborative effort of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), the Development Economics Research Group (DERG) at the University of Copenhagen, the United Nations University’s World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), and the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs (ILSSA).

This is an abstract about Vietnam SME Data 2015 and some research topics using this dataset.

• Vietnam SME Data 2015 is a biennial survey of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam, conducted by a collaboration of national and international institutions.
• The survey covers various aspects of SMEs, such as ownership, management, production, innovation, finance, labor, and social responsibility.
• The dataset provides a rich source of information for analyzing the characteristics, performance, and challenges of SMEs in Vietnam, as well as their contribution to economic growth and social development.

Research ideas using Vietnam SME 2015

Some possible research topics using this dataset are:

• The impact of institutional reforms and business environment on SMEs' competitiveness and innovation.
• Access to finance and SMEs growth: a panel data analysis of Vietnamese firms. This paper examines the determinants and effects of access to finance on SMEs growth in Vietnam. The paper uses panel data from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 surveys and employs fixed effects and instrumental variable models to account for unobserved heterogeneity and reverse causality. The paper shows that access to formal credit sources such as banks and microfinance institutions is positively associated with SMEs growth, while informal sources such as moneylenders and relatives are negatively related. The paper also identifies some factors that affect SMEs access to finance, such as firm size, age, ownership, location, sector, and innovation.
• The role of SMEs in creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty and inequality.
• The factors influencing SMEs' participation in domestic and international value chains.
• The relationship between SMEs' social responsibility and their economic performance and reputation.
• Innovation and SMEs performance: evidence from Vietnam. This paper investigates the relationship between innovation activities and firm performance indicators, such as sales growth, labor productivity, and profitability. The paper uses data from the 2015 survey and applies least squared regressions and propensity score matching methods to control for endogeneity and selection bias. The paper finds that innovation has a positive and significant impact on SMEs performance, especially for firms that introduce new products or services to the market.
• Determinants of SMEs access to formal credit in Vietnam. This paper examines the factors that affect SMEs access to formal credit sources, such as banks, microfinance institutions, and cooperatives. The paper uses data from the 2013 survey and applies probit and ordered probit models to estimate the probability and amount of formal credit obtained by SMEs. The paper finds that firm size, age, ownership type, collateral, financial transparency, and business environment are important determinants of SMEs access to formal credit.
• The impact of trade liberalization on SMEs export participation in Vietnam. This paper analyzes the effect of trade liberalization policies on SMEs export participation and intensity. The paper uses data from the 2011 survey and applies a difference-in-differences approach to compare the changes in export behavior of SMEs before and after Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007. The paper finds that trade liberalization increased SMEs export participation and intensity, especially for firms that produce labor-intensive goods or operate in export-oriented sectors.
• Gender differences in SMEs management and performance: a case study of Vietnam. This paper explores the gender gap in SMEs management and performance in Vietnam. The paper uses data from the 2015 survey and applies descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis to compare male- and female-owned SMEs in terms of their characteristics, management practices, innovation activities, access to finance, and performance indicators. The paper finds that female-owned SMEs are more likely to operate in low-value-added sectors, have less formal education and training, face more barriers to finance and markets, and have lower sales growth, profitability, and productivity than male-owned SMEs. The paper also discusses some policy implications to promote gender equality and women empowerment in SMEs.