• Korean Journal of Labor Studies
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-34
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• 2018

This paper attempts to provide a new theoretical approach and an empirical analysis based on it to interrogate the structure of household income inequality and its changes in South Korea in the 2010s. Previous research on inequality in sociology, labor economics and feminism has focused on local inequalities which derive from specific spaces of society. For a comprehensive understanding of social inequality in totality, it requires a discussion of global inequality beyond local inequalities. Thus, a synthetic approach that integrates local inequalities, encompassing class, the labor market, population, and family. By using regression-based inequality decomposition, we decompose the contribution of gender, level of education, employment status, occupation, household composition and wealth to household income inequality. This paper shows that household and wealth, as well as the factors discussed in the previous research, are significant factors affecting household income inequality in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.437-463
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• 2013

As polarization and class reproduction between generations are considered to be serious problems in Korean society, increasing number of assortative mating, which means marrying between homogeneous family background, income class, and educational background, is on the spotlight socially. Some worry that the increase of assortative mating can reinforce closure of social mobility so it deepens inequality and limits class mobility between generations. This research analyzes the effects of accomplishment characteristics of husbands and wives and ascriptive characteristics of parents which consist the concept of assortative mating, on income, consumption, and assets those represent economic status of a family. The purpose of this research is to suggest empirical understanding on the role of assortative mating that affect on inequality within generations and income mobility between generations in Korean society. In the result of multiple regression analysis on the effect of assortative mating on income, consumption, and assets, high educational background was the factor that increase income and consumption level as accomplishment characteristics of assortative mating. As ascriptive characteristics of assortative mating, educational homogeneous of fathers was the factor that increased asset level. While accomplishment characteristics affect income and consumption, ascriptive characteristics of homogeneous had significant effect on assets. Thus, it was found that transfer between generations had effects around asset rather than income. In particular, ascriptive characteristics in young husbands and wives aged 20s or 30s had significant effect only on the assets.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.35-59
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate determinants of the saving behaviors, perceptions of economic situation and attitudes on the program of the Individual Development Account program participants in Korea. Data used for this article was the survey on the participants of 'Seoul Hope-plus Saving Account Program' implemented by Seoul Welfare Foundation for 3 years. In order to consider variances within-individual and between-individuals, Hierarchical Linear model is used for this study. The results are as follows. First, In demographic factors, disability, gender, education level, marriage status are significant factors on the effectiveness of the program. Second, the participation on the program has positive effects on the conception on the living standard and economic status of the participants. However, total amount of savings excluding savings on 'Hope plus' has decreased. The household income is positively related with the amount of savings. Thus, it is necessary to consider individuals' socio-demographic factors to planning the asset-based program.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.78
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• pp.141-176
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• 2016

This study investigates changes of market structure from 2001 to 2015 in the Korean daily newspaper industry using concentration and mobility measures. The main empirical results are as follows. First, the industry's total asset shows a U-shaped trend, despite the downward trend of the industry's total sales revenue. Second, the market concentration, measured in terms of assets, shows the trend of an inverted-U shape. The relatively small firms, measured in terms of assets, have on average gained in market share while the relatively large firm have lost. Third, market concentration, measured in terms of sales revenues, shows a U-shaped trend. the relatively small firms, measured in terms of sales revenues, have on average gained in market share while the relatively large firm have lost. My central argument has been that it is desirable to supplement traditional concentration measures with mobility statistics and trend analyses in investigating and regulating market structure.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.20 no.1_2
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• pp.153-230
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• 1998

우리나라의 소득분배문제에 대해서 종래에는 적어도 1980년대 이후 개선되고 있으며, 국제비교에서도 다른 나라에 비해 결코 나쁘지 않다는 평가가 주류를 이루고 있었으나, 최근에는 그에 대한 반론이 만만치 않게 전개되고 있다. 본고에서는 "도시가계연보"의 원자료를 이용한 새로운 추계를 시도하여 1980년대의 소득분배가 지금까지의 통설처럼 그렇게 많이 개선된 것은 아니라는 결과를 제시하였다. 마찬가지로 일부의 반론처럼 1980년대의 소득분배가 실제로 악화되었다는 주장도 과장일 가능성이 크다는 점도 지적하였다. 단, 근로소득의 분배가 개선되고 있음은 분명하나 토지나 주식 등에 의한 불로소득까지 포함하면 결과는 크게 달라질 수 있다. 이 문제의 검증은 아직 끝난 것이 아니며, 올바른 결론에 도달하기 위해서는 앞으로 보다 많은 자료들이 발굴, 분석되어야 할 것이다. 한국의 자산분배에 대해서는 지금까지 자료가 별로 없어서 논의 자체가 어려운 상태였다. 최근 대우경제연구소의 패널 자료를 분석해본 결과, 한국의 부의 분배는 지금까지 알려진 것보다 훨씬 더 불평등하며, 특히 토지 등 실물자산의 불평등이 심각한 것으로 나타났다. 한편 한국의 빈곤은 많이 줄어든 것이 사실이며, 다른 후진국과 비교해서 빈곤 축소에 큰 성과를 거둔 것으로 평가된다. 본고에서 좀더 현실적인 최저생계비를 가정하여 분석해본 결과 한국의 빈곤은 물론 많이 줄어들었지만 아직 상당히 남아 있으며, 빈곤의 크기 자체(빈곤 갭)는 그다지 크지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 본고에서는 이러한 연구결과에 기초해서 우리나라의 분배문제에 대한 평가를 내리고 효율성과 형평성의 조화라는 관점에서 정책의 기본방향을 설정하였으며, 조세정책가 재벌정책에 초점을 맞추어서 정책방향을 논의하였다. 분배정의 관점에서, 우리나라의 세제는 직접세 비중을 높이고, 종합토지세, 상속 증여세 등 재산관련 세제의 기능을 강화하며, 근로자와 비근로자간 세부담의 형평성을 제고하는 방향으로 개편되어야 한다. 그리고 재별의 소유분산 자체보다는 재벌이 자행할 수 있는 경제적 부조리를 막기 위한 장치를 강화하는 것이 중요하다. 상속 증여세제 등의 강화나 기업경영의 투명성을 제고하기 위한 감시장치가 강화되어야 할 것이다. 특히 자유주의자가 강조하는 '정당한 권리의 원칙'으로서 '부정의의 시정'의 원칙이 보다 적극적으로 반영될 수 있어야 하며, 이러한 주장 자체가 시장 메커니즘을 옹호하는 진정한 자유주의 원칙에 입각하고 있다는 점이 강조되어야 할 것이다.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.502-516
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• 2014

This study has decomposed the Gini coefficient using Korean Labor & Income Panel Study data and empirically analyzed the impact of demographic characteristics and source-specific income of householder on the household income gap using panel analysis. The scope of areas were divided into 'nationwide,' 'metropolitan areas,' and 'non-metropolitan areas,' and the period before and after the global financial crisis was examined. The analysis findings are as follows. First, when the entire period was examined by income source using Gini decomposition with division of areas into 'nationwide,' 'metropolitan areas,' and 'non-metropolitan areas', the following results were revealed. The absolute and relative contribution level of property income to the gross income was the largest in the category of 'nationwide' and 'metropolitan areas,' while the contribution level of earned income was the largest in the category of 'non-metropolitan areas'. In addition, property income worsened the household income gap the most in the category of 'nationwide' and 'metropolitan areas.' Second, property income worsened the household income gap less after the financial crisis than before the crisis. It is probably because the price of real estate skyrocketed before the global financial crisis, worsening the household income gap, whereas the price drop after the crisis temporarily alleviated the gap. Third, a correlation analysis revealed that households with older householders whose education is high school graduation or below had relatively low gross income, and households with higher source-specific income, especially earned income, had relatively high gross income. Fourth, when the household income determinants were compared through panel analysis with division of areas into 'nationwide,' 'metropolitan areas,' and 'non-metropolitan areas,' the following results were obtained. While the impact of earned income, financial income, and other incomes was greater in non-metropolitan areas than in metropolitan areas, the impact of property income was greater in metropolitan areas than in non-metropolitan areas. To reduce the income gap, the government should impose higher taxes on the high-income class and provide tax benefits to the low-income class, with efforts to create a wide variety of jobs. In addition, since income inequality gets worse as the proportion of incomes generated through asset holdings becomes higher, the government should focus on stabilizing property prices while paying attention to the regional differentiation when carrying out related policies.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-38
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• 2005

Our paper aims to estimate a household consumption function in the presence of liquidity constraints as well as household characteristics. Empirical findings from a Korean cross-sectional data (National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure) reveal that several family characteristics, such as household size, number of working members, children in school, and educational level and age of the household head, turn out to be critical determinants of household consumption. Especially, the influence of household size on consumption decision is shown to be highly significant, not only indirectly through its impact on household income, but also directly by affecting the household's preference for consumption itself. While, the other family characteristics primarily influences household income. Our paper distinguishes itself from existing literature in that it greatly improves the explanatory power of the estimated household consumption function by measuring the degree of the liquidity constraint rather than simply identifying its presence. Based on the assumption that the present value of human capital is a function of household characteristics, the degree of the liquidity constraint is represented by the underestimated portion of the human capital. Such a method of implementing the liquidity constraint is useful in treating various types of assets according to their liquidity. Finally, our estimated household consumption function is applied to decompose cross-sectional variances of consumption inequality. The analysis confirms that the overall alleviation in liquidity constraints in Korea after the 1997 currency crisis reduced consumption inequality despite the worsening of income inequality and changes in the demographic composition of family characteristics during the same period.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.105-115
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• 2022

This study aims to investigate the Effect of Money Rush on Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition for college students in Busan and Gyeongnam area. We also examine whether Entrepreneurship has a mediating effect between Money Rush and Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, digital transformation of the industry have greatly changed the world of work, and job insecurity is becoming more prevalent. As income inequality expands due to the disparity in asset income, the Money Rush phenomenon, which prefers to increase asset income through investment rather than earned income, is becoming common. Money Rush secures an income pipeline and is divided into side hustles and investments that actively utilize Leverage to maximize profits. The findings of this study confirm that Money Rush has a positive effect on Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition and a partially positive effect on Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship has a partial mediating effect between Money Rush and Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition. The study analysis is expected to contribute to strengthening college students' competencies in Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition and presenting the policy and practical directions necessary to promote Start-up.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.197-208
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• 2020

This study attempts to identify the structure of class conflict in Korea and to suggest an alternative framework for a empathetic society. The objective and subjective level of satisfaction with life and class consciousness are in direct proportion, and status consistency signifies polarization. Distorted distribution structures and cultural values make income disparity and property disputes widen, which in turn lead to educational divides and status fixations, refracting or blocking the possibility of social mobility. By overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, it is not appropriate to go back to the past but to correct wrong consciousness and practices in the past, and the consistency between the state and members of society must be re-established. Through the process of innovation at the economic, global, and digital level, a major transformation is required in the new normal era, which prioritizes social development for human values. The conflict resolution depends on the solidarity of the community as a social foundation, since an empathetic society needs the trust and communication of the members of the society.

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.31-64
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• 2024

The recent trend of declining consciousness regarding the necessity of unification among South Korean citizens is evident. Does a cohort effect exist in this downward trend in the perception of the necessity of unification? The purpose of this study is to analyze whether birth cohorts statistically significantly influence the consciousness of the necessity of unification. To this end, the hierarchical age-period-cohort (HAPC) model was employed as the analytical model, and data from the Unification Consciousness Survey conducted by Seoul National University's Institute for Peace and Unification Studies from 2007 to 2021 was used. The analysis results showed evidence that the progress of economic inequality at the birth cohort level affected the decline in the perception of the necessity of unification. The 1980s birth cohort, which faced socioeconomic difficulties during their social advancement due to income and wealth polarization, is observed to have a distinctly negative perception of unification requiring massive financial resources, compared to the 1960s and 1970s birth cohorts.