• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8993-9004
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• 2014

Background: The incidence rate and the treatment costs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are high, especially in Thailand. Previous studies indicated that early detection by a surveillance program could help by down-staging. This study aimed to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with the introduction of a HCC surveillance program with no program and to estimate the budget impact if the HCC surveillance program were implemented. Materials and Methods: A cost utility analysis using a decision tree and Markov models was used to compare costs and outcomes during the lifetime period based on a societal perspective between alternative HCC surveillance strategies with no program. Costs included direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. Health outcomes were measured as life years (LYs), and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The results were presented in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Thai THB per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were applied to investigate parameter uncertainties. Budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed based on the governmental perspective. Results: Semi-annual ultrasonography (US) and semi-annual ultrasonography plus alpha-fetoprotein (US plus AFP) as the first screening for HCC surveillance would be cost-effective options at the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY gained compared with no surveillance program (ICER=118,796 and ICER=123,451 THB/QALY), respectively. The semi-annual US plus AFP yielded more net monetary benefit, but caused a substantially higher budget (237 to 502 million THB) than semi-annual US (81 to 201 million THB) during the next ten fiscal years. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a semi-annual US program should be used as the first screening for HCC surveillance and included in the benefit package of Thai health insurance schemes for both chronic hepatitis B males and females aged between 40-50 years. In addition, policy makers considered the program could be feasible, but additional evidence is needed to support the whole prevention system before the implementation of a strategic plan.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2015

During global recessions, such as the 2008 financial crisis, Korean shipping companies have been undergoing a liquidity crisis that is comparably worse than other shipping companies worldwide. One of the reasons behind this repetitive vicious cycle can be the lack of ability to foresee the future by analyzing and understanding the volatile shipping market. Traditionally, in order to assimilate the shipping market, larger Korean shipping companies have been purchasing market reports published by Europe-based research companies and shipping brokers, leading to a digital divide by company size. To resolve this issue, the Maritime Exchange Information Center (MEIC) has been publishing shipping market reports that include essential shipping information such as freight rates by different routes; commodity trends for iron ore, grain, and coal; ship-building trends for new-building, second-hand, and demolition markets; as well as bunker price and port congestion. This research was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of four variables-information usefulness, market reflection, information composition, and latest information-on information satisfaction. If the information satisfaction was found to be adequate, the analysis of actual proof was used to determine if the customers would be willing to purchase MEIC's report when it is chargeable. All the four variables were found to have positive effects on information satisfaction. In particular, latest information was found to directly affect the intention to purchase. Furthermore, high information satisfaction was related to the intention to purchase.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.60-76
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of self-differentiation and ego-resilience on service maladjustment behaviors of Social Service Agent. To achieve this, we chose these research questions. To verify these research questions, data were collected by distributing 470 questionnaires to Social Service Agent serving in service organizations located in Seoul. Four hundred twenty-seven surveys were used for statistical analysis. The results of this study are as follows: First, Social Service Agents were shown to generally adjust well to service, as self-differentiation and ego-resilience were slightly higher than the median, while service maladjustment behavior was slightly lower than the median. Second, when the effects of sociodemographic characteristics, self-differentiation and ego-resilience on service maladjustment behavior were studied, all values of sociodemographic characteristics, self-differentiation and ego-resilience affected all lower factors of service maladjustment behavior with significance. For social withdrawal, the effectiveness of interpersonal relations, optimistic attitude, and the degree of family regression had a negative correlation, and emotional divorce, education level, and term of service had a positive correlation. The degree of family regression, anger management, and cognitive function vs. emotional function had a negative correlation with hyperactivity while self unity had a positive one. Family regression, cognitive function vs. emotional function, anger management, and family's economic level negatively correlated with aggression. Family regression, optimistic attitude, cognitive function vs. emotional function, family's economic level and term of service had a negative correlation with obsession and compulsion.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.55-65
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• 2014

Purpose - This study aims to investigate the process of political changes in Japan, which has introduced regulatory policies for large-scale retail stores since the 1930s, as well as the examples, and suggests improvement schemes for our policies in Korea, which imposes restrictions on business hours and forced holidays in accordance with the current Distribution Industry Development Act. Research design, data, and methodology - After examining the political change processes related to large-scale retail stores in japan, this study analyzes individually regulated cases based on the ordinances enacted by each local government. Through case analysis in Japan, this study makes political suggestions that may be helpful for our country substantially. Results - Since there is an obvious possibility that our economic restrictions on business hours and mandatory holidays do not coincide with WTO GATS, it is necessary for large-scale distributors to introduce new social and environmental regulations similar to Japan, rather than imposing controls to restrict free competition and also introduce a policy to induce cooperation with small businesses for the advancement of the distribution industry. Thus, it is desirable to take measures on noise, waste, traffic, and parking for the preservation of the living environment in the surroundings when building new large-scale retail stores. It is also important to establish measures to improve the welfare of neighborhood residents and consumers, create a pleasant urban environment, and make it mandatory to make presentations at public hearings among residents. Furthermore, it should be mandatory to establish regional contribution plans when a retail store is established, and take measures to solve various civil complaints or problems that may occur after entering the market. Moreover, it is desirable for large-scale retail stores that entered the market to induce cooperation in performing various activities in the area with a strong sense that they are all members of the local economy. Conclusions - If introducing social regulations like in Japan, there is probably an advantage that the conflicts seen when large-scale retail stores enter the market are absorbed by adjusting the persons concerned within the established institution in order to establish a field to solve such conflicts systematically. In contrast, there are still concerns regarding chaotic operation without any active attempts to have a conversation with large-scale retail stores and local small merchants due to a sharp conflict among the persons concerned, and if it is a briefing session without any decision of the restrictions on their opening itself, there may be doubts with regard to their effectiveness. Moreover, if the de facto opening is restricted by the introduction of such a briefing session procedure, the choice of whether to protect the existing rights of large-scale retail stores might become problematic. However, such problems could be minimized in a way by forming a separate consultative group for all persons concerned including residents, local governments, professionals, civic organizations, small merchants, and massive retail store-related persons.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2007

Among numerous policy influencers' and researchers' advices and policy suggestions, there is little opposition to the proposition that technology is essential to the economic development. The role of technology has never been more emphasized than today in Korea as in any other countries. The effects of the government's innovation policy on corporate R&D activities and more broadly the economic welfare of a whole nation are widely recognized with intuitional and empirical evidence. That is, various R&D incentives reduce the marginal cost of a firm's R&D efforts, inducing as much increase of its R&D investment to result in a better chance to acquire target technology. This paper examines the impact of R&D incentives on the technological outcomes by analyzing individual firms' investment behaviors subject to the government's R&D incentive policies. An econometric model of technological outcomes is estimated on a project level with cross-sectional data. "Probit model" is employed for estimations. Special attention was given to the effectiveness of R&D programs by estimating policy impact by types of investment. The data were collected from 928 different R&D projects completed between 1987 and 1993. With the single equation approach, we were able to find that the structure of investment is a far more significant factor in technological outcomes than the total amount of investment. The analysis also shows that the two types of firms' matching investment, in-kind and cash, do not bear a complementary, but a substitutive relations to each other. It also reconfirms the proposition that R&D incentives increase firm's financial investment. Despite many supportive studies emphasizing the cooperation between innovation performers, it is also found that the larger the number of institutions involved in a project, the less likely it leads to a technological success, And meeting the proposed deadlines without postponing is estimated to be a good barometer to predict the outcome of an R&D project. Also the probabilities of success for major variables are represented for policy implications, after calculating marginal effects.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.231-255
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• 2012

This study examined the communication and conflict between ship prganization and ship management team. Those are measured and analyzed about both groups, and then the relationships would be investigated objectively and synthetically. Especially, this relationships are enlightened by measuring the level and gap of the communication and group conflict between ship organization and ship management team. The effect of that conflict is analyzed on the organization commitment and job satisfaction of ship organizations. As a result, this study demonstrates the communications have a negative influence on group conflict with statistic significance, also the conflicts effect negatively on the organization commitment and job satisfaction. In the analysis of gaps about the communication and conflict between groups, the level of group conflict is lowest in the group whose gap of communication is small and both communications are activated, and the organization commitment and job satisfaction are highest in the group whose gap of group conflicts is small and both level of the conflicts are low. To conclude, the ship organization and ship management teams in the shipping company have to lessen their conflict each other and heighten the organization commitment and job satisfaction through their smooth communication.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.83-98
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• 2017

Being in the globally competitive environment, public port enterprises which accentuate on the employment of excellent talents to procure competitive advantage are introducing the NCS(National Competency Standards)-based employment system that focuses on job skills. This study mainly aims to analyze the actual status of NCS utilization among public port enterprises and its usefulness as well as performance. The appropriateness, efficiency, satisfaction, comprehensiveness and performance of the current NCS - based employment system were analyzed by using collected data from the recruiting officers and new employees as subjects. And eventually an improvement plan was suggested. The result of analysis shows that the appropriateness and satisfaction level of NCS - based employment system are generally high; while its effectiveness, applicants' recognition and acceptance level as well as performance are slightly higher. Moreover, the job capability and performance on the job of new employee selected by the NCS employment system were analyzed to be higher when the appropriateness and satisfaction level of that system is high. In order to establish NCS - based employment system, early formulation and implementation of job performance assessment system to evaluate the actual abilities and performance of job is necessary. This study suggested the NCS - based employment system is effective for public port enterprises to procure excellent talents, as well as being useful for job preparation of job seekers according to the job competencies requirement of the enterprises. Therefore, this study contributes to the proliferation of NCS - based recruitment system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.97-109
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• 2011

Korea introduced the cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem for minimizing damage of ecosystem due to development projects and their effects and for preparing resources for natural environment conservation projects. Advanced countries have made efforts by expanding investment in natural environment conservation and restoring projects to promote prevention of global warming and improvement of biological diversity, are establishing nationwide strategies and plans. To examine the reality of projects by returns of the cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem, microsite projects in schools and public facilities take the largest share while their project budgets are only about 100~300 KRW, relatively small, which might be attributable to budget restrictions in accordance with the calculating method of levying cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem and problems of project proceeding in the system of returning fund for projects in general. The conclusion which this study suggests on invigoration of cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem and its operation are as followings. First, although the cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem has been introduced in 2001, the amount of imposition per unit area remains unchanged. It is desirable to increase the amount into $1,400KRW/m^2$ as of August, 2011 as the price index has been continuously rising for the past 10 years and the upward adjustment of imposition per unit area should be notified by the decree of the Ministry of Environment every January. Second, the ceiling amount of the cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem should be abolished. Now the ceiling amount is defined as 1 billion KRW but it was found that there was not any ceiling amount specified according to the comparative analysis of similar systems with the Korean environmental improvement fund. The ceiling should be abolished so that medium level businesses are carried out and ecosystem recovering projects in the true sense of the word can be made smoothly. Third, weight should be introduced in calculating amounts in accordance with ecologic and economic values. Harmony between development and environment can be achieved by applying differentiated weights of constant regional coefficient by use zone and ecologic and economic values. Continuous efforts of improving cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem should be made more than anything else so that projects by returns of cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem get effectiveness.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.17-29
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• 2013

The major aim of this research is to examine the effect of computer and internet literacy and cellular phone possession on depression and suicidal ideation among elderly. This study used data of 2011 national survey results on the elderly life conditions. To determine the effectiveness of computer and internet literacy and cellular phone possession, a total of 6,774 respondents over 60 years of age was selected. The SPSS package was used to analyze the data. Multiple linear regression and logit analysis was run to verify influence of information conditions(computer and internet literacy and cellular phone possession) on depression and suicidal ideation. The results are as follows. First, the elder who is male, younger, has higher education and economic level and lives with spouce is in good information conditions. On the contrary to this, the elder who is female, older, low level of education and economic, single and lives with grandchildren is in information minority group. They have high level of depression and rate of suicidal ideation. Second, computer and internet literacy and cellular phone possession associate with level of depression significantly. Third, computer and internet literacy do not associate with suicidal ideation significantly. The results of this study provide significant source to plan informatization policy and welfare services for socially isolated older people.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Purpose: The franchise system started by Singer Sewing Machine in the US is acting as a national economic growth engine in terms of job creation and economic growth. In China, the franchise system was introduced in the mid-1980s. And since joining the WTO, it has grown by 5-6% every year. However, compared to the growth rate of franchises, studies on shared growth between the chain headquarters and franchisees were insufficient. Accordingly, recent studies related to shared growth between the chain headquarters and franchisees have been active in China. The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge transfer system between the knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, and the use of knowledge by franchise chain headquarters in China. In addition, the relationship between franchise satisfaction and performance is identified. Research design, data, and methodology: The data were collected from franchise stores in Sichuan, China, and were conducted with the help of ○○ Incubation, a Sichuan Province-certified incubator. From November 2020 to January 2021, 350 copies of the questionnaire were distributed in China, and 264 copies were returned. Of these, 44 copies with insincere answers and response errors were excluded, and 222 copies were used for analysis. The data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0 statistical packages. Result: The results of this study are as follows. First, knowledge creation has been shown to have a statistically significant impact on knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization. In particular, the effectiveness of knowledge creation was higher in knowledge sharing than in knowledge utilization. And we can see that knowledge sharing also has a statistically significant e ffect on knowledge utilization. Second, knowledge sharing was not significant for transaction satisfaction and business performance, and knowledge utilization was significant for transaction satisfaction and business performance. These results can be said to mean less interdependence of the Chinese franchise system. Finally, transaction satisfaction was statistically significant to business performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of knowledge management to secure long-term competitive advantage for Chinese franchises. This study shows that knowledge sharing is important for long-term franchise growth. And we can see that there is a lack of knowledge sharing methods in the case of franchises in China. I n addition, it was found that the growth of Chinese franchises requires systematization of communication, information sharing measures and timing, help from chain headquarters, and mutual responsibility awareness.