The influence of privatization on financial performance of Vietnamese privatized state-owned enterprises

This article investigates the effect of firm size on the performance of Vietnamese private enterprises. Based on the data from the Annual Enterprise Survey from 2009 to 2018, this study uses an ordinary least-squares regression model (OLS) to point out the effects of firm size (growth rate, total assets, and total labor) on the performance of Vietnamese private enterprises in both static and dynamic states. According to the results of the quantitative model, total assets are the biggest factor for determining firm performance, followed by total labor and growth rate. The results highlight the issue in Vietnamese private enterprises development in terms of scale, despite the fact that their number is growing, as the scale of enterprises decreases (the proportion of micro and small enterprises increases, but the proportion of medium and big enterprises decreases). Besides, the disadvantages of scale also negatively affect the development process of Vietnamese private enterprises, including accessing capital, increase in production or productivity, business expansion, and improving competitiveness.

Acknowledgments
This research is supported by the National Science Project “Development of Private Enterprises in the Southwest Region in the new context” (KHCN-TNB/14-19/X15).

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence the application of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Vietnam through the perceptions of business managers and auditors. Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods based on a comprehensive analysis and aggregation of information available from various sources, the results of the questionnaire interviews of 500 managers and auditors currently working in Vietnam are offered. The results of the study show that factors affecting the applicability of IFRS in Vietnam are: legal basis for accounting activities; characteristics of enterprises; qualification and competency of the accounting teams; and corporate governance. The study also finds that governance factors and socio-economic and cultural conditions have an uncertain influence on the IFRS applicability. At the same time, there is no significant difference in awareness of the ability to apply IFRS between the group of enterprise managers and auditors and groups of people with different work experience. Among them, the qualifications and competencies of the accountant teams and the characteristics of enterprises are the two factors that have the strongest impact on the applicability of IFRS in Vietnam.

This study was conducted to determine the factors and their influence on accrual accounting reform in the public sector in Vietnam. Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods based on empirical surveys of 268 accountants, controllers, and auditors working in state agencies such as the Department of Finance, state treasuries and agencies receiving revenues from the state budget in 2019. This study shows that six factors influence the reform of the accounting system in the public sector in Vietnam to accrual-based: accounting staff – especially their expertise, competence, and work experience; training and support of the consulting experts; costs of the accounting reform; level of information technology application; funding and assistance from international organizations; legal environment.
At the same time, the accrual-based accounting reform will have a positive impact on improving the transparency and efficiency of public sector operations in Vietnam. Among the factors affecting accounting reform, the legal environment factor is the most influential determinant, followed by the contingent of accountants. The study’s limitation is that the new experimental investigation is only conducted with a small sample size and in a short period. However, the research results are also a useful reference for those who are interested in the context that Vietnam is preparing to have strong reforms in accounting in the public sector in the coming time.