KIHASA Publishes 18 Research Monographs in 2023

KIHASA published 18 research monographs in 2023, including "Study of Virtuous Cycle of Social Policy-Employment-Economy" and "A Deeper Understanding of the Relationship between Regional Inequality and Demographic Change."

• 1.Trends and changes in social risks following the COVID-19 crisis
  There are various views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of them are mere guesses, predictions, and fragemented analyses, rather than systematic analyses based on empirical evidence. A more systematic and empirical analysis of the impact of COVID-19 requires more evidence and insight, along with a rational framework for analysis and a balanced view. This study is aimed at reviewing the social problems that have arisen in the wake of COVID-19 that the social security system needs to address and, based on this, exploring the direction of social security policy going forward. The study also delves deeper into the theoretical discussions of social risks and analyzes how they differ before and after the COVID-19 crisis. To this end, we conducted a causal analysis to explain the relationship between the COVID-19 crisis and social risks, and analyzed the trends and changes in social risks by area.
  
  

• 2.Study of Virtuous Cycle of Social Policy-Employment-Economy
  This study explores the mechanism of the virtuous cycle of 'social policy-employment-economy both theoretically and empirically.' The study found that social spending had a positive impact on economic growth by boosting employment: Health and family policies increased total employment, including that of women; and health and labor market policies each increased labor productivity and social trust, which had a positive impact on the economy. This means that social policy can be used as a tool to creat jobs and increase individuals' employability. Spending on health and social care should be increased, while more social services policies focused on creating quality jobs should be put in place. It is necessary to strengthen active labor market policies and introduce more generous cash benefits for the working age population.
  
  

• 3.Impacts of International Migration on Population Dynamics and Policy Directions
  Despite the growing call for greater attention to the role of international migration in the face of Korea’s low fertility, there is a lack of in-depth discussion of the spillover effects such migration may have on demography. Migration is a topic in demography that is still quite difficult to analyze and predict due to insufficient theory, inaccessible data, and the complexity of the migration process. This study aims to analyze the demographic spillover effects of migration amid Korea’s ultra-low fertility, which has persisted for more than 20 years since the 2000s, and the resulting population aging and decline. Based on this analysis, the study assesses both the potential and limitations of migration as a means of responding to population decline, and generally discusses policy directions and tasks for responding to population aging and decline.
  
  

• 4.A Study for the Restructuring of the Korean Welfare State: The Dilemma of the Digital Welfare State
  This study explores the scope of the role of the welfare state in a changing environment, which has not yet been adequately addressed, in two categories: ‘people who do not want help’ and ‘the digital welfare state,’ and draws policy implications.
  
  

• 5.A Deeper Understanding of the Relationship between Regional Inequality and Demographic Change
  Noting that regional inequality is not a problem of specific regions, but rather the spatial manifestation of various disparities, we need to look deeply into how these manifestations interact with demographic change. Thus, the purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between regional inequality and demographic change, and based on this understanding, to propose measures to respond to the regional population crisis that Korean society is facing as one of the major social risks.
  
  

• 6.Strategies for Improving Community Meal Care Services for Older Adults
  Providing adequate meal services to people aged 65 and older who are nutritionally vulnerable can prevent them from developing severe diseases and help them lead an independent living. This study classifies older adults in the community into different categories, designs a survey tool to be used in providing meals and nutrition services that meet their different needs and characteristics, and evaluates its applicability. It also presents policy recommendations on how to expand the use of the survey tool in the field.
  
  

• 7.A Research on Alternatives to Innovate the Welfare Delivery System: Focusing on Improving the Policies to Reach the Vulnerable Populations
  Expanding and strengthening the welfare system is the best policy to reduce the welfare gap. While the government has implemented various policies to prevent and reduce incidents and accidents related to the welfare gap, the field has had the dual difficulty of identifying and supporting those in need. This study presents the need to prioritize strengthening ‘support’ systems and linking different benefits over ‘identifying’ needs in responding to the welfare gap. It also suggests policy alternatives, such as a national welfare benefit application system and public-private partnerships at the local level.
  
  

• 8.A Study on the Basis of the Social Trends Monitoring
  This study, a follow-up to a ‘Preliminary Study of the Social Trends Monitoring,’ recognizes that more work is needed to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a policy trends analysis system and aims to improve the policy trends monitoring framework developed in the preliminary study and to concretize the database development plans. Based on the findings, the study makes recommendations on the work to be done by KIHASA to regularize and advance its analysis of social policy performance and trends.
  
  

• 9.COVID-19 under the Microscope of KIHASA Research
  As we transition from pandemic to endemic, various assessments and reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic are needed. To this end, this report overviews the research projects on COVID-19 conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs over the past three years. It is organized around the facts, analyses, and policy suggestions from these research projects. We hope it will serve as a basis for a more comprehensive and systematic analysis of COVID-19 in the future.
  
  

• 10.Korean Social Security Trends in Indicators ？ Income and Housing
  Economic well-being is the foundation of a decent human life. The report, “Korean Social Security Trends in Indicators,” uses various indicators to identify trends over the past decade in households, income redistribution, economic activities, income security policy demand and supply, and housing, and to determine where Korea stands in international comparison.
  
  

• 11.Korean Social Security Trends in Indicators ？ Health Care
  Health is the most basic requirement for the pursuit of human dignity, value, and happiness. In this “Korean Social Security Trends in Indicators ？ Health Care,” we have reviewed the trends of major health care indicators by sub-sector over the past 10 years to understand the current situation and identify any gaps that exist among major groups. We also compared Korea’s position in the international community.
  
  

• 12.International Research on Health and Welfare Policy
  Korea’s health and welfare policies have achieved a great deal of a steady growth over the years. However, a more proactive approach is needed to respond to rapid demographic changes, social polarization, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a time of geopolitical crisis and increasing global social risks, we aim to explore strategies to develop and consolidate Korea’s social security policies, promote KIHASA’s capacity for international research cooperation, enhance research performance by collaborating with prominent research partners abroad, and promote our research achievements to the international community.
  
  

• 13.Monitoring the Status of Health Inequality in Korea and Policy Development ？ Building Disaster Statistics to Improve Health Equity
  In recent years, the scale of disasters has increased, causing significant damage to society every year. People in lower social classes were found to be more vulnerable to these disasters, while government support for such vulnerable individuals turned out to be insufficient. In order to analyze the impact of these recurring disasters more accurately and, based on this analysis, formulate policies to protect people vulnerable to disasters, it is essential to establish basic disaster statistics. The purpose of this study is to suggest ways to produce disaster statistics and to set up a monitoring system that will be used to assess the extent of the disaster damage inflicted on different social classes and to identify gaps between these classes. The study suggests ways to improve disaster statistics, which will be used in formulating advanced disaster safety measures.
  
  

• 14.A Study on the Management and Utilization of Health and Welfare Survey Data: Focusing on Survey Data Management Cases in KIHASA
  This study examines ways to manage and utilize KIHASA’s survey data more efficiently. Based on the study findings, we formulated survey data management strategies, defined detailed standards for managing and processing survey data according to its characteristics, and suggested ways to make the survey data management system more transparent and accessible.
  
  

• 15.The Impact of Climate Crisis on Mental Health
  The climate crisis is considered a threat to human health as it causes extreme weather conditions and changes in natural ecosystems that lead to various health hazards, including increased acute and chronic diseases and premature deaths. The climate crisis has also been identified as threatening mental health through various channels. In Korea, there has been a recent surge in public attention to climate insecurity. Abroad, mental health is treated as an issue of health adaptation to climate change, and conversely, mental health policy covers issues related to climate change adaptation. In Korea, the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan addresses related mental health issues, but it is hard to say there is any specific policy to protect mental health from climate change-related health hazards. This study analyzes the mechanism working between the climate crisis and mental health and previous research on the topic. It also investigates climate insecurity in Korea. Based on the findings, the study suggests some policy tasks to promote mental health in the age of the climate crisis.
  
  

• 16.Changes in the Family Structure of Middle-aged and Older Adults and Policy Tasks: Focusing on Single-Person Households
  This study aims to propose measures to improve social policies for one-person households with middle-aged and older adults, which are now common household types amid the increasing number of one-person households, by moving away from viewing such households as vulnerable groups. To this end, the study compares middle-aged one-person households with elderly one-person households and assesses their needs. Based on a review of legal and institutional issues, the study proposes measures to improve social policies for the security of middle-aged and elderly one-person households, taking into account their different characteristics from a legal and institutional perspective.
  
  

• 17.Child Allowance as a Policy Response to Demographic Change in Korea
  Child allowance was introduced in Korea to promote children’s rights and welfare by reducing the economic burden of child rearing and creating a healthy environment for children. It is now being implemented as one of the main policy measures to respond to low fertility. This study aims to review recent discussions on child allowance and suggest measures to improve the program in response to demographic change. The study suggests a direction for child allowance based on an empirical analysis of its cash support effects on fertility rates. It also includes a financial projection that reflects the opinions of households that have received child allowance, newly married childless households, and experts. The findings of the study suggest that child allowance should be expanded in its target and amount with the ultimate goal of effectively addressing low fertility.
  
  

• 18.Monitoring Policies on Low Fertility and Population Aging: Population Policy Planning Council
  The Population Policy Planning Council was set up by the Population Policy Planning Group at KIHASA to plan research and other projects the Group conducts on low fertility and population aging, as well as to promote cooperation with other departments at KIHASA to ensure efficient project implementation. The Council identifies and selects interdisciplinary policy research projects and plans and organizes the Population Forum of the Population Policy Planning Group. In 2023, the Council planned 10 research projects, including one in-depth study on population phenomena, five policy research projects on low fertility, and four projects on responding to aging and aged society. An additional 25 more projects were proposed by experts in relevant fields for the Council to implement from an interdisciplinary perspective.