Analysis of Financial Status for the Self-Employed - Effect of Economy Change and Comparison of the Self-employed and Earners -

The purpose of this study is to examine the changes in financial structure of the self-employed brought on the economic crisis in Korea.. We use financial ratio analysis, such as income to expenditure ratio, liquidity ratio, debt ratio, and capital accumulation ratio to analyze financial well-being of self-employed households. This study used a 1997 and 1998 Korean Household Panel Study collected by Daewoo Economic Research Institute. The average amount of holding of each type of asset showed that the investment of self-employed households decreased in the banking industry and the stock market in 1998 compared to 1997. On the other hand, asset allocation in bond and real estate increased, which implied preference for a stable type of asset with the increase in uncertainty of the future and economic instability. Devaluation of real estate allowed households to easily obtain real estate and increase preference for asset allocation in real estate after the crisis. The changes in financial ratio for the year 1998 shows that such ratios as income to expenditure, liquidity, and capital accumulation, decreased compared to the year 1997. Among those ratios, the income to expenditure ratio showed the biggest decline because of reduced income of self employed households. The results implied that the income structure of the self-employed is unstable, thus the self-employed were likely to be greatly affected during the economic downturn. Earners have more average income and net assets than the self-employed. However, using financial ratios, it was found that self-employed households were more stable than employees. The results shows that the financial ratio analysis is better tool to estimate households financial status. Implications for financial educators, counselors, and planners are offered. The results will provide implications for policy makers to establish appropriate policies for the self-employed and help them financially survive.