Retail trader pricing behavior in the traditional rice market: A micro view for curbing inflation

The price of rice at the retail level affects consumer welfare and influences inflation. The research objective was to study rice retail trader pricing behavior in traditional markets. This study employed an econometric model consisting of six equations of price spread between the retail market level and wholesale level of different rice qualities and grades. To overcome endogeneity problems due to the use of several equations that could cause potential bias, the simultaneous method with the 3SLS approach was deemed appropriate to use to obtain consistent and efficient coefficient estimates. The results show that, by examining the behavior of price spreads in the model, it can be deduced that rice retailers in the traditional market applied a price stabilization strategy. A lower price spread responded to an increase in price at the wholesale level. Rice retailers in traditional markets also implemented a price-averaging strategy. The results of this study have important policy implications for reducing food price volatility and its impact on inflation. That is, a price policy aimed at price stabilization at the retail level, as in this study, will be more effective if the price stabilization is focused on the wholesale level. However, if the pricing policy continues to be applied at the retail level, it must consider the relationships between different rice qualities and prices. This study also highlights the need for more intensive research on pricing behavior at the wholesale level.

Health and safety implementation in indonesia and risk of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the socio-economic sectors since the end of 2019. Indonesian‟s Government issued the large-scale social restrictions policy to limit the industrial activities. This study aimed to investigate the difference of the health, safety, and environment (HSE) implementations among Indonesian companies, before and during the disruption risk of COVID-19 pandemic according to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). It used a random sampling, involved 1,027 workers from various sectors of Indonesian companies. Hypothesis tests used are ANOVA and t-test method. The level of HSE compliance changed quite significantly when the COVID-19 outbreak emerged. The results explained, there is no significant difference in HSE compliance based on company location, company risk level, and position of a respondent in the company. However, there is a significant difference between companies that have a HSE division and a HSE Management System certificate with the company who did not have any. The recommendations of HSE improvement formulated using a Safety Model Canvas and a Focus Group Discussion conducted to convey the jazz scenario in the next normal. This study suggests the priority order for HSE improvement strategy in a company is commitment, responsibility, engagement and involvement, leadership, competence, information and communication, to organizational learning. © 2021, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan - Faculty of Publich Health. All rights reserved.