• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.115-131
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• 2011

Several common issues are encountered by countries - Germany, Japan, and the United States - that adopted long-term care (LTC) system. First, the demand for LTC and its associated costs have steeply risen following the implementation of the LTC policy. Second, ensuring the quality of services have been difficult. Third, the coordination of services among providers and between LTC and medical care has been inadequate. Learning from their experience, we suggest ways to improve the LTC system in Korea. The basic approach aims for efficiency over equity in the system. This would require promoting provider competition and consumer choice. We propose several policy options according to the major stakeholders. For consumers, cash benefits at fixed rates and personal savings accounts are feasible options to self-contain the demand and cost of services. On the insurer's side, creating an environment of multiple insurers will engender competition, leading to cost savings and quality care. For providers, delivery of quality services through competition, cost-containment through capitated reimbursements, and coordination of services through integrated delivery system can be achieved. From the assessors' perspective, establishing an information system to monitor the activities of insurers and providers would be important, empowering consumers with information to choose cost-effective service providers. In summary, the suggested approach would provide cost-effective LTC services by guaranteeing consumer choice and promoting major stakeholder accountability. Further studies are needed to test the feasibility of this model in ensuring quality LTC in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.361-368
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• 2011

This study aims to examine the consumer preference for packaged bean curd that takes a growing public interest. Specifically, this study tried to examine which is more important - the place of origin of the raw bean or the environmental-friendliness of the raw bean. Surveys were conducted to obtain information, such as the consumer evaluation for food safety on imported food products from China and the consumer perception of Chinese organic food products, Using the binary probit model, the relationship between consumer's choice of packaged bean curd and potentially important factors that can affect the consumer's choice was analyzed. A summary of this research and some policy implications follow. The results of this study can be used as the basic guideline as to how to extend the safety of imported food products, in general, and how to further develop the packaged bean curd industry in Korea, in particular.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.105-124
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• 2017

The recent global economic crisis has resulted in increased discussion and attention on the sharing economy, a form of economic activity where individuals share currently available products. This study investigates consumer sharing economy usage attitudes and usage intentions by applying rational choice theory. For this study, an investigation that had 400 adult consumers from across Korea answer a structured questionnaire was conducted. A statistical approach using SPSS ver. 22.0 was used to analyze the data. The study found that the consumer's sharing economy value and participation levels were higher than usual. Higher than usual consumption patterns were seen for the construct of rational behavior theory. An analysis of the relative influence of variables regarding sharing economy usage intention also found that usage intention was higher for those who had experienced using a sharing economy services rather than those who did not have experience. In addition, the sharing economy usage intention also increased along with the values for subjective norms, sharing economy usage attitudes, sharing economy participation, sharing economy emotional benefits, and increased values. This study found that fundamental materials for consumer education should be made to eliminate difficulties that consumers have when they use sharing economy services. It is also expected that economic policy will develop to stimulate the sharing economy in a stable manner, that sharing economy-related information will be provided to consumers, and that consumer policies will be prepared to prevent consumer problems before they occur.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Organic Agriculture Conference
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• 2009.12a
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• pp.281-281
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• 2009

Although national and regional environmentally friend agriculture (EFA) and food development programmes such as the Life-Food Development Plan (LFDP) have been established in Korea, some policy measures in these programmes seem to be unsuitable for Korean organic farming development. Policy measures tend to support external input purchases of organic fertilizers rather than market development actions such as providing consumer information, research, education, training and statistical data collection. The development of an organic action plan (OAP) for Korea is therefore considered essential for the sustainable future of organic farming in Korea. The purposes of OAP are 1) to define and set the clear goals/targets for the organic sector development, 2) to integrate various organic stakeholders and public institutions in partnership, 3)to focus on specific issues with tailored measures and 4) to integrate and develop different policy measures (Stolze, 2005). Most EU member state countries have developed their own OAPs and each reflects its own priorities with regard to organic sector development. This study compares and contrasts the Welsh, England and EU OAP with the Korean Jeonnam Life-Food Development Plan (LFDP) in order to facilitate the development of the organic food and farming sector in Korea. Early action plan, for example, the first Welsh OAP(1999) focused support on developing the supply of organic products whereas later action plans (e.g. England OAPs in 2002 and 2004 and the second Welsh OAP in 2005) focussed more on developing consumer demands for organic products. The EU OAP (2004) also aims at market support related to consumer demand and then organic farming production for its environmental and other social benefits. OAPs not only provide specific issue-solving tools but also perform a role as providing a focus for organic sector development as a whole. The Korean LFDP provides issue-solving tools but plays no regulatory role such as policy development, harmonizing various policy measures and conflicting factors and providing evaluation tools for further development. A national-level OAP could also facilitate international trade of organic products. To achieve better harmonized and sustainable approaches for the Korean organic industry, National- as well as regional- regulatory policy systems are urgently required in the form of an Organic Action Plan.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.249-260
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• 2019

The study examines the impact of financial risk, convenience risk, non-delivery risk; return policy risk and product risk on online consumer behavior of Malaysian consumers. The research employed a self-administered survey to collect empirical data from 245 Malaysian online shoppers by using convenience sampling. Cronbach alpha was calculated to confirm the reliability of the data and then normality was assessed. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was then conducted to test the model using the goodness-of-fit tests. And finally, structural equation modeling is used to test the hypotheses and draw conclusions. IBM SPSS AMOS version 22.0 was utilized for data analysis. The research indicates that product risk, convenience risk, and return policy risk have a significant and positive impact on online shopping behavior. Financial risk is found to have insignificant and negative effects on consumer behavior. In addition, the non-delivery risk is found to have a significant and negative impact on online shopping behavior. The findings provide a useful model for measuring and managing perceived risk in online shopping which may result in an increase in participation of Malaysian consumers and reduce their cognitive deficiencies in the e-commerce environment. Several managerial implications are discussed along with the scope for future research.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the present workfamily balance policy and suggest a vision for moving forward. First, this study identified the scope of the workfamily balance policy and assessed the importance of this policy in relation to other family-related policies. Second, we evaluated the workfamily balance policy from the perspective of family resource management. Third, we suggested orientations and strategies for better policymaking from this same viewpoint.

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.143-162
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• 2018

This paper focuses on the policy framework about "Quantitative and Qualitative Easing (QQE)" of Japan, and analyzes reasons why the policy goal was not reached. The QQE was introduced by the Bank of Japan in 2013 with the purpose of meeting the price stability target of 2% and getting out of deflation that prevents sustained price decline. However, despite the implementation of the bold monetary easing policy unprecedented in the world, the policy goal was not achieved as of June 2018. As a result of analyzing the causes, the following three structural factors were confirmed. 1) The rise in prices by QQE was limited because Japan's consumer price is strongly depending on import price. 2) The effect is high degree of uncertainty and limited because theoretical framework of reflationist which adopted QQE depends on "expectation formation" by "self-fulfilling expectation" and "multiple equilibria". 3) It was confirmed that the expansion of the monetary base did not lead to money stock due to the existence of Japanese liquidity trap, long-term low interest rate policy.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.109-133
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• 2014

With a growing concern about climate change and green house gases mitigation, carbon labeling policy has been launched in several countries as an environmental policy which connects low carbon production to low carbon consumption. This research aims to propose a model that explains consumers' attitude and brand loyalty toward carbon labeling products. This model specifies the consumer's psychological processes by which consumer values, such as autonomy and environmental values, affect carbon labeling product and corporate images and finally form brand loyalty toward carbon labeling products. Panel data were collected in two separate surveys and analyzed using a structural equation technique. Results are summarized as follows. First, consumers' autonomy value(AV) positively affects locus of control(LC) and corporate image(CI). Second, consumers' environmental value(EV) positively influences perceived consumer effectiveness(PCE), which in turn has a negative effect on perceived barriers(PB). Perceived barriers finally affect product image(PI) negatively. Third, both corporate image and product image have causal relationships with brand loyalty. Our results suggest that carbon labeling policy contributes not only to the reduction of greenhouse gases but also to the increase of consumers' attitude and brand loyalty toward carbon labeling products. This research also provides governments with directions for efficient environmental policy and firms with guidance on effective marketing strategies about carbon labeling.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.1430-1435
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• 2010

Korea has achieved the current economy growth based on the industrial structure which was focused on large companies. However, small businesses can be of great importance in the national economy and also the information for small businesses can promote improvement in productivity and reinforcement of the capability at a time. Currently the national policy for strengthening information capabilities of small businesses is being confronted with various difficulties including a decrease in a national budget. In this paper I will examine the present policy related to the information for small businesses and draw several issues of it. Based on them, finally I will suggest a new policy direction with three categories, which are diversification of the consumer-directed support policy, efficiency of the performance-oriented support policy and long-term dynamic force for growth.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.813-821
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• 2022

The Livestock Raw Material Purchase Fund is a policy to increase the export of livestock products by providing loans to exporters of livestock products (including byproducts). The policy started in 2015 and the annual budget is about 26 billion won. However, a quantitative evaluation of policy effects has not yet been made. Therefore, in this study, the economic surplus of the policy was analyzed using the equilibrium displacement model (EDM). From the results of the welfare analysis, from 2016 to 2019, producer surplus in the chicken and duck market increased by KRW 70.9 billion, while consumer surplus decreased by KRW 70 billion. In other words, the total economic surplus of the chicken and duck market increased by about one billion won during the same period due to the increase in export demand according to the policy. Therefore, the Livestock Raw Material Purchase Fund can be viewed as a policy to maintain and increase export demand for export livestock products and to improve the economic surplus of the livestock product market. Also, since the policy is based on loans, it does not place a burden on the government's finances. Therefore, this policy should continue in the future.