Abstract:
The objective of this study, An analysis of the Structure of the This Tobacco Leaf industry: With Special Focus on Virginia Variety, is to analyse the characteristics and structure of the Thai Virginia tobacco leaf industry, with an emphasis on the study of market system of Thai Virginia and of world tobacco leaf. Such a study increases understanding of the market structure which is useful for policies formulation and market development. In this study, the problems are analysed by using Industrial Organization Theory concerning the relation between market structure, conduct and performance approach. Three principal aspects are analysed, namely, 1) Vertical Integration, 2) Export Concentration which are employed two methods in calculating the concentration value: Comprehensive Concentration Index and Thiels Method. Cross sectional data of export companies of 1969, 1975 and 1978 are used in the calculation with the assumption that firms; export is independently determined. and 3) Joint Venture which is based on the amount of share holdings. The main findings can be summarized as follow: Thai Virginia tobacco leaf industry is vertically integrated with reference to export companies only, other production and distribution levels are on credit basis. Besides, the industry is very competitive in exports. The empirical results, however, reveal that it is not true that exports. In export company is independent. The relation is between mother company and its subsidiary, concentration value under this situation do not calculated. Finally, Thai Virginia tobacco leaf industry is joint venture by foreigners who hold about 38% shares in ten Thai leading export companies. This characteristic is a result of vertical expansion of world multinational tobacco leaf industry and its attempt to control natural resources in Thailand. The economic impacts of these three characteristics are, in micro level, the benefits of both sellers and buyers in every level of tobacco leaf contractors by interdependent; and, in macro level, the barriers to new entry, transfer of intermediate technology to Thais, and increase in income differences among the people in the North. Further study, however, should take into account the fact that the exporting companies are interdependent. The measurement of vertical integration should be quantitative, such as value added-sales ratio, inventory-sales ratio, for increased understanding. Furthermore, any research on capital utilization, and sources of capital of foreign companies in this industry should be promoted as well to prove whether foreign joint-ventures result in foreign exchange surplus for Thailand.