Harvey Norman: Evaluating Thailand & Philippines-BSD119 Report

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Added on Ā 2023/04/20

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This report analyzes the socio-economic, political-legal, and business environments of Thailand and the Philippines to determine the more suitable market for Harvey Norman's expansion. It examines demographic variables, GDP, political risks, governance, regulatory constraints, and infrastructure standards in both countries. The analysis suggests that Thailand presents more favorable business opportunities due to its higher GDP growth rate, stable political environment, better infrastructure, and openness to foreign direct investment, despite the environmental risks in the Philippines. The report concludes with recommendations for improving infrastructure in the Philippines to attract investment and promote economic growth.
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Contents

Introduction
.................................................................................................................................................2
Environment
................................................................................................................................................ 2
Socio-Economic Environment
.................................................................................................................. 2
Political - Legal Environment
................................................................................................................... 5
Business Environment
............................................................................................................................. 6
Analysis
........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Recommendation
........................................................................................................................................8
References
................................................................................................................................................... 9
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Introduction

Harvey Norman is the largest Australian based company which deals in the products related to

furniture, computers, bedding and Consumer electrical products. Headquarter of the company is

in New South Wales, Australia. There are approximately 10,000 employees who are managing

the overall activities of the company. The CEO of the company is Katie Page and the company

mainly operates as the franchise in the market. The competitors of the company are David Jones

and Coles and the aim of the company is to boost the growth in the competitive market.

Environment

Socio-Economic Environment

Demographic variable- Demography of the country covers certain different criteria such as

population density, ethnicity, economic status, health, education level, and religious affiliations.

The population of the country has been growing at the pace of 1.52 percent. Philippines is the

12
th most populated nation and according to UN`s latest estimates, the current population is
106.51 million (Trading economies, 2018). The country`s population has a diversified range of

ethnic groups. According to the population density, the business will grow due to increasing

demand of the customers.
Here eighty-one percent of people are catholic Christians, 11 percent
are from Christian denomination, and approximately 6 percent of them are Muslim

(Worldpopulationreview, 2018). On the other hand, population density of Thailand is much more

than Philippines, it is around 135 person in a per square kilometer and it has increased from the

previous years. Majority of the Thailandā€™s population is locates at Bangkok with the diversified

ethnic groups (Lucintel, 2016).

GDP-
It is important for Philippines to consider that their policies has to be formed after seeing
that the economy of the country is leaded by service sector that will ultimately contribute to 56.9
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percent of GDP in 2015. As Philippines is prone to destructive natural disasters which is

ultimately reflected in the GDP of the country. Moreover, another challenge to upcoming

companies to establish in Philippines is low investment in research and development (R&D)

(Statista, 2018a). Whereas, Thailandā€™s economy is influenced due to low rate of interest and

inflation that ultimately increases the purchasing power of the customers. Due to increasing GDP

rate, Thailand can be a more appropriate option to invest as far as GDP is concerned. From the

below GDP growing graph of Philippines, the GDP is increasing slowly and gradually.

Although, it is important to consider the pace of growth is slow and the reason is clear as the

country is highly influenced by destructive disasters (Trading economies, 2018).

Tabular and graphical representation of GDP of Philippines and Thailand

GDP of Philippines

Years
GDP (in US Dollars)
2012
250.09
2013
271.84
2014
284.59
2015
292.77
2016
304.89
2017
313.68
2018
331.68
2019
354.31
2020
385.44
2021
422.59
2022
464.04
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2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

GDP of Philippines

(Source: By author)

GDP of Thailand
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Years
GDP (US billion dollars)
2012
397.56
2013
420.33
2014
407.34
2015
401.37
2016
411.84
2017
455.38
2018
490.12
2019
524.25
2020
555.23
2021
586.14
2022
617.9
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2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

GDP of Thailand

(Source: By author)

Political - Legal Environment

Political risk- The political factors is a crucial factor that affects the stability especially in terms

of corruption and change of rule. From the last few years, Thailand`s government encourages a

huge level of public investment with an aim to fasten the economic growth. In 2010, the Prime

Minister planned to launch reconciliation plan that protects the nation`s main institution, treat

injustice and inequalities, that can ultimately enable the constructive talks and communication

among the political parties. The plan should put the motion into political parties which is

transparent, efficient, and democratic. Coalition headed by Prime minister has enhanced the

broadening and competitiveness of market accessibility for the business that remains a part of

economic policy by promoting trade and investment policies (Lucintel, 2016). On the other hand,

Philippines has a stable political environment. Although, the country provides a strong surplus

with high foreign reserves. It is important to consider that Philippines is prone to volcano and

earthquakes. While establishing the company in Philippines, a company has to a huge risk
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associated with their risk of existence especially occurrence of natural disasters such as

typhoons, earthquakes, and destructive floods (Llanto, and Manalili, 2018).

Governance- the governance system of Thailand strongly believes in engaging the free trade

agreements and other co-operative frameworks that will be able to expand the international

linkages, preventing the corruption, promoting and developing the health insurance system,

providing solutions to the threat of drugs, raising the standard of living of people by relieving

them from the higher tax imposition and increasing the wage. These government policies will

assist the country`s development (Llanto, 2015).

Business Environment

In the emerging economic community, regulatory qualities plays an critical role in stimulating

the investments and improving them.

Regulatory constraints- the environment for conducting business has improved in the last few

years. As per the business report of World Bank in 2012, it contains some measures to conduct a

business with an ease. Thailand provides an easy conduct of business by introducing one stop

shop. Moreover, according to the index of economic freedom, the country has been ranked sixty

two among 180 countries and 10
th among 41 Asian countries (CariƱo, 2016). The country scores
well in fiscal freedom, monetary freedom, government spending, and labor freedom when its

regulatory norms are compared with Worldā€™s average. Whereas, the regulatory reforms in

Philippines in relation to political framework. The country follows a presidential system and

democratic governance structure which is composed of bicameral legislature and judiciary

branch. It is reported in the regulatory system of Philippines that local government generally

impose tertiary rules and such as permits and license by the passing of local ordinance (CariƱo,

2016).
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Standards of infrastructure- Thailand has been ranked among the top 20 economies out of 183

economies. The country has grown more competitive in the need of labor market reforms that

can become a competitive advantage for a business (Philippines, 2018). On the other hand,

infrastructure in Philippines remains a risk due to high probability of natural disasters. The

economic forum reveals that the current investment demand for infrastructure is around $1

trillion that is much lower than the demanded of around $3.7 trillion. In Philippines,

infrastructure is both challenge as well as opportunity. Although, in recent years it has improved

a lot by resolving the deficit issues that can be main driver for the growth (Philippines, 2018).

Analysis

The business opportunities are more in Thailand, as far as the socio environmental factors are

considered, the population of Bangkok has been increasing because people have started moving

towards the city from the rural area. This has caused high traffic, air pollution, and poverty.

Therefore, the demand of customers will be relatively high when as compared to Philippines

(Statista, 2018a). Whereas, while viewing at the GDP`s growth rate of Thailand, it can be

interpreting from the above graph that the pace of growth is a little higher than Philippines

(Business wire, 2017). The initial GDP is much higher than Philippines. From the above

analysis, it can be stated and revealed that it will be more profitable to a company if it starts

investing in Thailand when as compared to Philippines. In regards to Thailand, the country

scores quite well in fiscal terms, government spending, regulatory norms and also the monetary

freedom. It is most important to consider while investing in a new country that whether Thailand

encourages the FDI or business establishments or not. Thailand favors foreign establishment.

Due to high environmental risk such as destructive earthquake and flood, the idea of establishing

cannot be executed because the main idea of business is to cover its fixed cost and generate
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profits. Apart from environmental factors, Thailand`s growth rate of GDP is even higher at the

very first stage that indicates more disposable income of customers with the buying capacity. In

terms of cultural and social factors, Thailand has more diversified population with even more

population density. It can be beneficial for the company if it thinks of investing in Bangkok as

the population density is also considerable. Due to lack of infrastructure facilities in Philippines,

Thailand is again preferred for its enabled infrastructure such as roads, railways and water

reservoirs (Philippines, 2018).

Recommendation

Recommendation based on improving several factors can lead to attract the investment. When as

concerned to major strategies to develop the infrastructure in the country, it should enhance the

efficiency of transportation sector in order to increase the competitive nature of transferring the

goods from one place to another by certain measures. The government should enact national

transport policies that can create independent bodies which can regulate seaports, railways and

airports. The country should improve the port facilities that can ensure inter-island shipping with

a RORO network. Moreover, the company should promote FDI that will result in increasing

GDP and employment rates.

References

Business wire, (2017). Macroeconomic Opportunities and PESTLE Analysis of Thailand 2017 -

Research and Markets. Retrieved from:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170815005987/en/Macroeconomic-

Opportunities-PESTLE-Analysis-Thailand-2017--
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CariƱo, L. V., (2016). Regulatory Governance in the Philippines. Retrieved from:

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.126.3227&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Llanto, G. M. (2015). Toward an Effective Regulatory Management System: Philippines.

Retrieved from:

https://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/webportal/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps1532.pdf

Llanto, G. M. and Manalili, N. M. (2018). Regulatory issues in the Philippine food

manufacturing industry. Retrieved from:

https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidspn1804.pdf

Lucintel (2016). PESTLE Analysis of the Philippines 2016. Retrieved from:

https://www.lucintel.com/press/pestle-analysis-of-the-philippines-2016.aspx

Philippines, (2018). PHILIPPINE INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR. Retrieved from:

http://boi.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Infrastructure-January-2018.pdf

Statista, (2018a). Philippines: Gross domestic product (GDP) in current prices from 2012 to

2022. Retrieved from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/578709/gross-domestic-

product-gdp-in-philippines/

Statista, (2018b). Thailand: Gross domestic product (GDP) in current prices from 2012 to 2022.

Retrieved from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/332234/gross-domestic-product-gdp-

in-thailand/

Trading economies, (2018). Philippines GDP per capita. Retrieved from:

https://tradingeconomics.com/philippines/gdp-per-capita
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Worldpopulationreview, (2018). Philippines Population 2018. Retrieved from:

http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/philippines-population/
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