Relative Deprivation in Consumption of Urban Poor Households in Korea

도시빈곤가계의 상대적 박탈 -소비를 중심으로-

Despite the rapid economic growth since the 1960s the economic inequality has been exacerbated in Korea. This study analyzed the variables influencing the level of objective deprivation. For empirical analysis this study used the data on 602 households in the city of Inchon collected by the researcher through interviews. The major method used in this study was the four stepwise multiple regression. The findings were as follows : the residential class was the most critical variable in determining the level of deprivation. For the entire sample assets had stronger effect on the deprivation than nonasset income but two variables had different effects depending on residential class. For the poor residential class two variables had the effect These results imply that the household consumption in Korea shows remarkable difference according to residential class and that the inequality of wealth compared to that of nonasset income had much more serious effects.