Error message

After successfully surviving the brunt of the Asian economic crisis that began in mid-1997, Korea is now confronting the threat of global economic crisis. In coping with this new crisis, Korea faces many challenges. Rapidly increasing numbers of elderly and retired people require programs that meet their needs in an equitable way, but do not impose impractical economic burdens on future working-age populations. Family and population policies must boost flagging fertility rates and maintain the work force necessary to support increasingly aging populations. Labor market policies must not only create new employment opportunities but also help the temporarily unemployed to move into jobs. In addressing these broad areas of social policy, the authors of this book analyze and compare the approaches taken in Western Europe, the United States, Japan, and other OECD countries, in their efforts to meet the needs of aging societies (pension systems and health care for the elderly) and to resolve issues of wealth redistribution and social equity (educational opportunities, appropriate levels of welfare support and housing for lower-income families). The contributors to this book discuss the likely effects of different social policy choices on future economic development. They hope that their findings and recommendations will provide guidelines for future social policy decisions, in Korea and all countries facing similar challenges. © Korea Development Institute |
|
After successfully surviving the brunt of the Asian economic crisis that began in mid-1997, Korea is now confronting the threat of global economic crisis. In coping with this new crisis, Korea faces many challenges. Rapidly increasing numbers of elderly and retired people require programs that meet their needs in an equitable way, but do not impose impractical economic burdens on future working-age populations. Family and population policies must boost flagging fertility rates and maintain the work force necessary to support increasingly aging populations. Labor market policies must not only create new employment opportunities but also help the temporarily unemployed to move into jobs. In addressing these broad areas of social policy, the authors of this book analyze and compare the approaches taken in Western Europe, the United States, Japan, and other OECD countries, in their efforts to meet the needs of aging societies (pension systems and health care for the elderly) and to resolve issues of wealth redistribution and social equity (educational opportunities, appropriate levels of welfare support and housing for lower-income families). The contributors to this book discuss the likely effects of different social policy choices on future economic development. They hope that their findings and recommendations will provide guidelines for future social policy decisions, in Korea and all countries facing similar challenges. © Korea Development Institute |
|