• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.31-58
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• 2010

Using Seoul Welfare Panel Study, this research examines regional differentials in income and asset between Gangnam households and Non-Gangnam households in Seoul. Applying the Oaxaca decomposition method, it also decomposes factors associated with the differentials into explained and unexplained components. Results show that average monthly income is about 4 million won for Gangnam households and 3.2 million won for Non-Gangnam households. The explained component accounts for most of the income differential, which mainly originates from differences in the distributions of individual and household characteristics associated with the monthly income. The net asset differential between the two regions is much greater than the income differential. The net asset is about 460 million won for Gangnam households and approximately 280 million won for Non-Gangnam households. Most of the net asset differential is remained unexplained after controlling for covariates which measure demographic characteristics of householders and various features of labor market in which household members are employeed. It implies that other factors such as inter-generational transfers of wealth may play a significant role in creating the net asset differential.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.393-400
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• 2017

Objectives: To relieve the financial burden faced by households, the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) system introduced a "copayment ceiling," which evolved into a differential ceiling in 2009, with the copayment ceiling depending on patients' income. This study aimed to examine the effect of the differential copayment ceiling on financial protection and healthcare utilization, particularly focusing on whether its effects varied across different income groups. Methods: This study obtained data from the Korea Health Panel. The number of households included in the analysis was 6555 in 2008, 5859 in 2009, 5539 in 2010, and 5372 in 2011. To assess the effects of the differential copayment ceiling on utilization, out-of-pocket (OOP) payments, and catastrophic payments, various random-effects models were applied. Utilization was measured as treatment days, while catastrophic payments were defined as OOP payments exceeding 10% of household income. Among the right-hand side variables were the interaction terms of the new policy with income levels, as well as a set of household characteristics. Results: The differential copayment ceiling contributed to increased utilization regardless of income levels both in all patients and in cancer patients. However, the new policy did not seem to reduce significantly the incidence of catastrophic payments among cancer patients, and even increased the incidence among all patients. Conclusions: The limited effect of the differential ceiling can be attributed to a high proportion of direct payments for services not covered by the NHI, as well as the relatively small number of households benefiting from the differential ceilings; these considerations warrant a better policy design.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.81-102
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the work-family reconciliation level of married women in double-income households. Specifically, the study aimed to test the positive spillover effects, asymmetry, and differential functions of work-family reconciliation. The study thus analyzed 1,114 married women in double-income households in the third-year data of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (KLoWF) done by Korean Women's Development Institute (KWDI), with the exception of those who were separated, divorced, or widowed from their husbands. The data were put to descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, and exploratory factor analysis using SPSS 20.0 for Windows. AMOS 20.0 was used to test the hypothesis on positive spillover effects, asymmetry, and differential functions. The analysis results confirm that work-family conflict, family-work conflict, work-family facilitation, and family-work facilitation are different concepts, thus supporting the hypothesis on positive spillover effects. Secondly, the negative effects of family on work were greater than those of work on family, whereas the positive effects of family on work were greater than those of work on family, which finding partially supported the hypothesis on asymmetry among the components of work-family reconciliation. Finally, the married women in double-income households with preschool children experienced more work-family conflict and family-work conflict than those with no preschool children, which result supported the hypothesis on differential functions between the two groups of women. The findings were combined to provide implications for the utilization of family resources, policies for work-family reconciliation, and plans for institutional supports to promote the work-family reconciliation of married women in double-income households.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.17-33
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• 2004

The present study attempts to examine the progressivity of health care financial sources based on the income approach, for which it decomposes redistributive effects into vertical, horizontal, and re-ranking components. The study data include Korean Household Expenditure Survey (2000) conducted every 5 year by Korea National Statistical Office. The data were sampled from the national population by the multistage probabilistic sampling method, and amounts to 23,270 households. For the better application of the income approach, the study employs household total expenditure in Korea instead of total income, because the former data source is more reliable and less fluctuated over time. Progressivity of health care financing was measured by Kakwani index. Aronson's decomposition equation was used in case of the analysis where differential treatment of health care expenditure needs to be considered. Despite the progressivity of Korea's governmental contributions, total expenditure of health care showed regressive pattern, which may largely be attributable to the higher regressivity in out-of-pocket money. With the result of negative Kakwani index, differential treatment increased income redistribution biased for better-off. It is worth to note that social insurance displays not only negative Kakwani index, but also horizontal inequality, suggesting that the first step of health care financing reform should be the revision of social insurance premium rates toward effective and equable way.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.191-233
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• 2002

This paper is to examine some issues and policy direction of capital income taxation in Korea. Fundamental tax reform in US was reviewed to get some lessons for reforming the capital income taxation. One of main characteristics in Korea's capital income taxation is different treatment by corporation type, investment goods, and financial structures. Especially, the tax differential for debt and equity financing has been serious, as debt has been deducted as cost. We discuss that tax policy should try to satisfy the efficiency, equity, and simplicity under the structure of income based taxation for the time being. However, the changes of tax policies in advanced economies should be carefully examined, as Korea has the structure of small open economy. The current issue on the abolition of corporation income tax might be premature in logical structure and implementation. The US fundamental tax reform might be useful reference for determining the direction of capital income taxation in Korea, as it gives us some chances to discuss about tax base issue with income and consumption. Consumption based taxation is superior to income based taxation in the perspective of administrative and compliance costs. We should consider these tax costs for reforming capital income tax system in Korea.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.111-124
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences in the health status of the divorced population according to their income status and to explain the social mechanisms. By analyzing 287 midlife men and women divorced within the last 5 years, we found a strong inverse relationship between their health and income status: the low-income divorced group was more liable to depression and poor physical health. Lack of social connections and having less hope for remarriage after getting a divorce were main factors explaining health vulnerability of the low income group among divorced. Further details have been discussed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.381-387
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• 2007

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to determine how the association between socioeconomic position(SEP) and health status changes with age among Seoul residents aged 25 and over. Methods: We utilized the 2001 and 2005 Seoul Citizens Health Indicators Surveys. We used self-rated 'poor' health status as an outcome variable, and family income as an indicator of SEP. In order to characterize the differential effects of socioeconomic position on health by age, we conducted separate multivariate analyses by 10-year age groups, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. In order to assess the relative health inequality across socioeconomic groups, we estimated the Relative Index of Inequality (RII). Results: The risk of 'poor health' is significantly high in low family income groups, and this increased risk is seen at all ages. However, the magnitude of relative socioeconomic inequality in health, as measured by the odds ratio and RII, is not identical across age groups. The difference in health across income groups is small in early adulthood (ages 25-34), but increases with age until relatively late in life (ages 35-64). It then decreases among the elderly population (ages more than 65). When the RII reported in 2005 is compared to that reported in 2001, RII can be seen to have increased across all ages, with the exception of individuals aged 25-34. Conclusions: The magnitude of health inequality is the greatest during mid- to late adulthood (ages 45-64). In addition, health inequalities have worsened between 2001 and 2005 across all age groups after economic crisis.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.139-154
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• 2015

This paper uses the Heckman model to evaluate the income difference between the public sector and the private sector based on the CHNS data. The research finds that the difference of the public sector versus the private sector between the west area and the east area is about 10% from 1989 to 2000, the transition of the income difference is smooth, that data has made sharp increase to 32% from 2000 to 2011. Considering the income difference between the west area and the central area, the central area and the east area from 1989 to 1997, the data is about 10~15%, from 2000 to 2011 is rocketing time, the data reaches 20%. This paper is very revealing about the income difference ofthe public sector versus the private sector is increasing year after year, and the economy is developing rapidly but with imbalance among different areas in China. It would provides the reference for adjust the income distribution system in future.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.109-126
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• 1998

We analysed the determinants of part-timer labor demand and supply in Kwangju. The findings of the paper are as follows; First, firms employ part-timer workers in the unskilled or skilled jobs not demanding much training cost. There are two reasons for firms to employ part-time workers: labor cost cut and flexible employment adjustment. Estimated wage differential is 40% not including fringe benefits differential. Second, we find lots of married women to want part-time jobs. The more probably married women choose part-time work, the younger and the less educated they are, and the less kids and the less other income they have.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.23-48
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• 2008

Although the universal health insurance, National Health Insurance (NHI), have improved access to health care and financial burden of health care costs for Koreans, limited coverage of the NHI leads to high out-of-pocket payment for health care. This study examines financial burden of household health expenditures by income level. Data from the Urban Household Expenditure Survey from 1985 through 2005 is analyzed and household expenditure is used as a proxy measure for income. Health expenditures include spending for inpatient care, ambulatory care and pharmaceuticals. If a household spends health expenditure above 40% of household consumption except for foods, that is defined as catastrophic health expenditure. Access to health care for the lowest income group had been improved for two decades relative to other income groups as well as in absolute term. However, both financial burden of health expenditures and the proportion of households that experienced catastrophic health expenditure had been increased in the lowest income group. Study findings have several policy implications. First, in terms of financial burden of health expenditures. the differences among income groups decreased until 2000 but it was worsen in 2005. This suggests that recent policies for extending NHI coverage are not enough to improve the disparity by income level. Second, a differential catastrophic coverage by income level would be an effective strategy that relieves financial burden for low income group. Third, since the catastrophic coverage is applied to only covered services by the NHI, additional strategy for uncovered services should be considered.