• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2020.11a
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• pp.179-180
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• 2020

In the budgeting guidelines, there are rules for calculating design fee and direct costs. However, only the design fee is calculated excluding the direct cost, which causes the cost to be insufficient. Therefore, this study is designed to analyze representative cases where direct costs are insufficient, draw out problems, and propose a way to improve design fees.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2021

Foodborne outbreaks frequently occur worldwide and result in huge economic losses. It is the therefore important to estimate the costs associated with foodborne diseases to minimize the economic damage. At the same time, it is difficult to accurately estimate the economic loss from foodborne disease due to a wide variety of cost components. In Korea, there are a limited number of analytical studies attempting to estimate such costs. In this study we investigated the components of economic cost used in foreign countries to better estimate the cost of foodborne disease in Korea. Seven recent studies investigated the cost components used to estimate the cost of foodborne disease in humans. This study categorized the economic loss into four types of cost: direct costs, indirect costs, food business costs, and government administration costs. The healthcare costs most often included were medical (outpatient) and hospital costs (inpatient). However, these cost components should be selected according to the systems and budgets of medical services by country. For non-healthcare costs, several other studies considered transportation costs to the hospital as an exception to the cost of inpatient care. So, further discussion is needed on whether to consider inpatient care costs. Among the indirect costs, premature mortality, lost productivity, lost leisure time, and lost quality of life/pain, grief and suffering costs were considered, but the opportunity costs for hospital visits were not considered in any of the above studies. As with healthcare costs, government administration costs should also be considered appropriate cost components due to the difference in government budget systems, for example. Our findings will provide fundamental information for economic analysis associated with foodborne diseases to improve food safety policy in Korea.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2010

It is stated in the highway geometric design guide that expressway interchange types should be selected considering a set of input variables including travel demand, topography, construction cost and interchange spacing. However, this selection method has a problem of providing different interchange types even for the same input variables depending upon different applications of engineers discretion. A procedure that produces consistent results is necessary and this paper presents the development of an efficient and reliable procedure based on the quantification of road user costs and construction costs on interchanges. To develop this procedure, a survey of existing expressway interchange types in South Korea was made and 10 basic interchange types and 52 supplementary interchange types were identified. To relate road user costs and construction costs to these interchange types, this research uses two method. First, interchange types were expressed by a set of ramp configurations. Second, road user benefits and construction costs associated with these different interchange types were formulated based on the current national guide of the expressway economical analysis. As a result, it was proved that an interchange type to provide minimum costs could be selected consistently and this research result should be useful for future expressway geometric designs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.123-127
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• 1978

The major objective of this research is to identify those hospital characteristics that best explain cost variation among hospitals and to formulate linear models that can predict hospital costs. Specific emphasis is placed on hospital output, that is, the identification of diagnosis related patient groups (DRGs) which are medically meaningful and demonstrate similar patterns of hospital resource consumption. A casemix index is developed based on the DRGs identified. Considering the common problems encountered in previous hospital cost research, the following study requirements are estab-lished for fulfilling the objectives of this research: 1. Selection of hospitals that exercise similar medical and fiscal practices. 2. Identification of an appropriate data collection mechanism in which demographic and medical characteristics of individual patients as well as accurate and comparable cost information can be derived. 3. Development of a patient classification system in which all the patients treated in hospitals are able to be split into mutually exclusive categories with consistent and stable patterns of resource consumption. 4. Development of a cost finding mechanism through which patient groups' costs can be made comparable across hospitals. A data set of Medicare patients prepared by the Social Security Administration was selected for the study analysis. The data set contained 27,229 record abstracts of Medicare patients discharged from all but one short-term general hospital in Connecticut during the period from January 1, 1971, to December 31, 1972. Each record abstract contained demographic and diagnostic information, as well as charges for specific medical services received. The 'AUT-OGRP System' was used to generate 198 DRGs in which the entire range of Medicare patients were split into mutually exclusive categories, each of which shows a consistent and stable pattern of resource consumption. The 'Departmental Method' was used to generate cost information for the groups of Medicare patients that would be comparable across hospitals. To fulfill the study objectives, an extensive analysis was conducted in the following areas: 1. Analysis of DRGs: in which the level of resource use of each DRG was determined, the length of stay or death rate of each DRG in relation to resource use was characterized, and underlying patterns of the relationships among DRG costs were explained. 2. Exploration of resource use profiles of hospitals; in which the magnitude of differences in the resource uses or death rates incurred in the treatment of Medicare patients among the study hospitals was explored. 3. Casemix analysis; in which four types of casemix-related indices were generated, and the significance of these indices in the explanation of hospital costs was examined. 4. Formulation of linear models to predict hospital costs of Medicare patients; in which nine independent variables (i. e., casemix index, hospital size, complexity of service, teaching activity, location, casemix-adjusted death. rate index, occupancy rate, and casemix-adjusted length of stay index) were used for determining factors in hospital costs. Results from the study analysis indicated that: 1. The system of 198 DRGs for Medicare patient classification was demonstrated not only as a strong tool for determining the pattern of hospital resource utilization of Medicare patients, but also for categorizing patients by their severity of illness. 2. The wei틴fed mean total case cost (TOTC) of the study hospitals for Medicare patients during the study years was $11,27.02 with a standard deviation of $117.20. The hospital with the highest average TOTC ($1538.15) was 2.08 times more expensive than the hospital with the lowest average TOTC ($743.45). The weighted mean per diem total cost (DTOC) of the study hospitals for Medicare patients during the sutdy years was $107.98 with a standard deviation of $15.18. The hospital with the highest average DTOC ($147.23) was 1.87 times more expensive than the hospital with the lowest average DTOC ($78.49). 3. The linear models for each of the six types of hospital costs were formulated using the casemix index and the eight other hospital variables as the determinants. These models explained variance to the extent of 68.7 percent of total case cost (TOTC), 63.5 percent of room and board cost (RMC), 66.2 percent of total ancillary service cost (TANC), 66.3 percent of per diem total cost (DTOC), 56.9 percent of per diem room and board cost (DRMC), and 65.5 percent of per diem ancillary service cost (DTANC). The casemix index alone explained approximately one half of interhospital cost variation: 59.1 percent for TOTC and 44.3 percent for DTOC. Thsee results demonstrate that the casemix index is the most importand determinant of interhospital cost variation Future research and policy implications in regard to the results of this study is envisioned in the following three areas: 1. Utilization of casemix related indices in the Medicare data systems. 2. Refinement of data for hospital cost evaluation. 3. Development of a system for reimbursement and cost control in hospitals.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2015

Precast Concrete (PC) construction method can be the one that is suitable for long-life housing due to its merit in respect of maintenance and durability based on crack-free from mass production with indirect construction cost-saving-effect due to shortening construction period comparing to the conventional construction method, but it has the problem that causes the raise of direction construction costs. So, this study analyzed its economic feasibility of PC method whose maintenance and durability are excellent for underground parking lot of apartment house for accomplishing cost-saving long-life housing by applying the various structural system. In evaluation of unit module structural system, two-way PC system requires 10 to 28% more costs for frame work than RC rigid frames, and, one-way PC system 98~112%. Although it varies depending on the method, the costs are similar to RC rigid frame structure, provided a proper method is adopted. Also, Model 11, which was most economical in the evaluation, was applied to an real parking lot and about 2 to 6% of construction costs was reduced than RC rigid frames. This seems to be because, although PC system has a higher production cost, introduction of P.S (prestress) reduces member depth and, therefore, height, as well as the number of members per unit module.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.562-571
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• 2016

Purpose: In this study the costs and benefits of a home health care program were examined to evaluate the economic feasibility of the program. Methods: The study participants included 349 patients in the community who had been registered at a home health care center for 5 years. The costs and benefits of the program were analyzed using performance data and health data. The benefits were classified as the effects of pressure ulcer care, skin wound care and catheters management. The program effect was evaluated on the change of progress using transition probability. Benefits were divided into direct benefit such as the savings in medical costs and transportation costs, and indirect benefits which included saving in productivity loss and lost future income. Results: Participants had an average of 1.82 health problems. The input cost was KRW 36.8~153.3 million, the benefit was KRW 95.4~279.7 million. Direct benefits accounted for 53.4%~81.2%, and was higher than indirect benefits. The net benefit was greater than 0 from 2006 to 2009, and then dropped below 0 in 2010. Conclusion: The average net benefit during 5 years was over 0 and the benefit cost ratoi was over 1.00, indicating that the home health care program si economical.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.76-86
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• 2008

This paper examines when a consumer in existent telecommunication 2G applies to new telecommunication service 3G from the viewpoint of an option pricing theory. To improve telecommunication quality of service, the consumer applies to 3G. The application means an exchange of 2G for 3G with extra costs such as searching and conversion costs. Since the option to exchange is a right that the consumer can exercise or not, application to 3G is deemed an exercise of the option to exchange at most suitable value of the option. The timing to exercise the option depends on the extra costs and the additional communication benefit from new telecommunication quality of service. These affect an optimal timing to apply to 3G. The optimal applying or switching timing to 3G is when an economic value of the option to exchange is equal to an economic value of the extra costs plus the additional telecommunication quality from new telecommunication service. The option analysis used in this paper is applicable to various industries.

• IE interfaces
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.128-138
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• 2011

This research proposes a resource allocation model of Data QC (Quality Control) activities using COQ (Cost of Quality). The model has been developed based on a series of research efforts such as COQ classifications, weight determination of Data QC activities, and an aggregation approach between COQ and Data QC activities. In the first stage of this research, COQ was divided into the four typical classifications (prevention costs, appraisal costs, internal failure costs and external failure costs) through the opinions from five professionals in Data QC. In the second stage, the weights of Data QC activities were elicited from the field professionals. An aggregation model between COQ and Data QC activities has been then proposed to help the practitioners make a resource allocation strategy. DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) was utilized for locating efficient decision points. The proposed resource allocation model has been validated using the case of Korea national defense information system. This research is unique in that it applies the concept of COQ to the data management for the first time and that it demonstrates a possible contribution to a real world case for budget allocation of national defense information.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.43-56
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• 2016

The research aims to help merchant acquiring institutions gain a better insight on what merchant establishments in the Singapore market perceive of the costs they incur due to credit card acceptance. The research attempts to study the Singapore market and establish if increased credit card usage does increase costs for the merchant establishments that accept credit cards, this will help to acquire institutions in Singapore have a better understanding of merchant perceptions and what drives or deters credit card acceptance in the Singapore market. The survey was based on an interview of merchant establishments and the views of the merchants and was not based on their financial data. As a first step, the variables used in the survey were tested for interdependence using Chi-square tests; subsequently data reduction using factor analysis was performed and finally linear regression to establish a relation between dependent and independent variables. Merchant establishment believe accepting credit cards and increasing volume is costlier compared to another form of payment, but have mixed awareness about interchange fee. It also indicated that interchange fee and cardholder benefits are independent of the merchant establishments. The study only broadly attempts to gauge merchants view if increased credit card usage has increased costs for them.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.103-113
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• 2012

Infrastructure costs could be greatly reduced if the need for bridges and tunnels was reduced, or if the line could be shortened. Tilting trains might be a less costly alternative to building new tracks with large curve radii, because tilting trains can negotiate tighter curves without having to decrease their speeds. Tracks built for tilting trains would be cheaper, as they require fewer bridges and tunnels. This paper compares the construction costs of two different options for the new Dodam-Yeoncheong section on the Central line, which includes 148.65 km of new electrified double-track with a design speed of 250 km/h. The first option is to straighten the high-speed line. The second option is to build a line with small radii curves and run tilting trains on the line. In the first option, tunnels would account for about 51% of the new section. In comparison, the second option would have shorter curves and fewer tunnels and bridges which would reduce construction costs. Furthermore, alignment modifications could be made to several segments on the straight line, making the most of the existing roadbed. The analysis concluded that the line suited to tilting trains would be 95.7 million USD cheaper to build the straight route. That is a savings of 2.8% of the total project cost. However, this option would increase the total travel time of the route by 1.2 minutes, which means it is not necessarily the best choice.