• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.181-205
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• 1997

There has been considerable controversy over the impacts of the tax credit on R&D expenditures in many countries. Korea has adopted various kinds of tax credit system to stimulate private firm' R&D expenditures. Korean government, Recently, is trying to reform tax system to reduce tax credit programmes according to Uruguay Round agreement and in line with OECD policy standards. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of current tax credit system on technology innovation in Korea and derive some policy implications over tax reform. In this paper, firstly, I investigate the size of tax reduction effects from each program in theoretical models and simulate the actual rate of individual tax incentive to a unit of R&D expenditure. I find that theoretically the reserve fund for technology development program has given the largest tax reduction effects to private firms irrespective of the R&D incentive system reform. Tax credit on R&D expenditure also has been very effective instrument to firm's tax reduction. Secondly, I try to measure the effectiveness of tax credit through the estimation of effective margianl tax rate between with the system and without the system of credit on R&D expenditure during the tax credit reform periods. I find that the tax credit on R&D has lowered firm's investment cost since the system introduced. I also have strong results that there has been a positive relation between the fluctuation of firm's R&D expenditure and the change of effective marginal tax rate. I suggest that it is better to sustain the system of tax credit on R&D for a while to increase firm's R&D expenditure.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.123-149
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• 2003

The paper examines the effects of tax incentives on corporate R&D expenditures. We regress tax incentives and financial variables on the increase or the level of corporate R&D expenditures. Tax incentive variables are the magnitude of R&D tax credit and the level of reserve for R&D, while financial variables are the amount or increase of R&D expenditures in prior years, profitability, cash flows and Tobin Q. Sample firms are selected among the listed companies which reported R&D expenditures in the financial statements from 1995 to 2000. The results indicate that increase and level of R&D expenditures is positively influenced by the magnitude of R&D tax credit and the level of reserve for R&D. The amount of R&D expenditures has positive relationship with prior one-year R&D expenditures, while the increase of R&D expenditures has negative relationship with prior year increase and recent three year's average of R&D expenditures. The evidence is consistent to the hypothesis and results of other studies, which suggest that tax incentives for R&D encourage the corporate R&D expenditures.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.663-683
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• 2018

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of R&D tax credit for SMEs. We surveyed to collect the information on firm's financial statements and R&D tax credit during 2014-2016, and implemented fixed effect model, random effect model and panel negative binomial model. The results show that the effect of R&D tax credit is 5.3 times larger in terms of R&D expenditure and 4.3 times bigger in terms of number of researchers than that of R&D subsidy. In addition, the effect of tax credit on non-metropolitan area companies is higher than that in the metropolitan area. Based on these results, we suggests three ways to improve the R&D tax incentive system for SMEs; To convert unused R&D tax credit of the start-ups to tax points, to exempt the minimum tax rate on R&D expenditure in equipment, and to unify the operation of various R&D tax credit institution.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-48
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• 2009

Recently we have found some symptoms that R&D fiscal incentives might not work well what it has intended through the analysis of current statistics of firm's R&D data. Firstly, we found that the growth rate of R&D investment in private sector during the recent decade has been slowdown. The average of growth rate (real value) of R&D investment is 7.1% from 1998 to 2005, while it was 13.9% from 1980 to 1997. Secondly, the relative share of R&D investment of SME has been decreased to 21%('05) from 29%('01), even though the tax credit for SME has been more beneficial than large size firm, Thirdly, The R&D expenditure of large size firms (besides 3 leading firms) has not been increased since late of 1990s. We need to find some evidence whether fiscal incentives are effective in increasing firm's R&D investment. To analyse econometric model we use firm level unbalanced panel data for 4 years (from 2002 to 2005) derived from MOST database compiled from the annual survey, "Report on the Survey of Research and Development in Science and Technology". Also we use fixed effect model (Hausman test results accept fixed effect model with 1% of significant level) and estimate the model for all firms, large firms and SME respectively. We have following results from the analysis of econometric model. For large firm: i ) R&D investment responds elastically (1.20) to sales volume. ii) government R&D subsidy induces R&D investment (0.03) not so effectively. iii) Tax price elasticity is almost unity (-0.99). iv) For large firm tax incentive is more effective than R&D subsidy For SME: i ) Sales volume increase R&D investment of SME (0.043) not so effectively. ii ) government R&D subsidy is crowding out R&D investment of SME not seriously (-0.0079) iii) Tax price elasticity is very inelastic (-0.054) To compare with other studies, Koga(2003) has a similar result of tax price elasticity for Japanese firm (-1.0036), Hall((l992) has a unit tax price elasticity, Bloom et al. (2002) has $-0.354{\sim}-0.124$ in the short run. From the results of our analysis we recommend that government R&D subsidy has to focus on such an areas like basic research and public sector (defense, energy, health etc.) not overlapped private R&D sector. For SME government has to focus on establishing R&D infrastructure. To promote tax incentive policy, we need to strengthen the tax incentive scheme for large size firm's R&D investment. We recommend tax credit for large size film be extended to total volume of R&D investment.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-43
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• 2019

The significance of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) is gradually highlighted as we have entered the age of "New Normal." The South Korean government support these enterprises to boost economic growth and create more jobs. It also releases numerous policies such as national R&D projects and expanding tax incentive services particularly aiming at promoting dramatic investment in R&D and technological innovation. There is a sharp contrast regarding the efficiency of direct or indirect supports for encouraging R&D investment launched by SMEs depending on researchers. However, there has been little attempt to explore the optimal combination of two policy tools. Amid promoting affiliated governmental departments in charge of SMEs policies and constantly growing R&D investment, it is an appropriate time to discuss the medium and long-term direction for the optimal policy mix of direct and indirect supports. In this study, the author obtained 32 relevant studies published earlier in the domestic journals, explored literatures more systematically, and further conducted a meta-analysis. It is dedicated to summarizing relevant controversies and organizes them empirically beyond merely verifying whether policy support stimulates private R&D investment by SMEs. The meta-analysis showed that it would be effective to support as tax for large enterprises, while subsidiary support for SMEs. However, indirect support needs to be progressively increased as direct support primarily accounts for the entire R&D support for South Korean SMEs.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.99-121
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• 2010

The goal of this paper is to analyze the effects of various firm characteristics on the probability for a firm to receive government’s financial supports for R&D. In the empirical analysis, a Probit model is estimated for the 2008 Korea Innovation Survey data. The main contribution of the paper is to investigate the distribution of R&D supports at the national level, instead of the program level. Especially, it is the first academic effort to evaluate the effects of regional and industrial variables. The results show that: (1) firm size and export increase the probability of receiving government’s R&D support; (2) variables measuring firms’ innovative ability, such as official designation as innovative firm, running R&D institute, number of R&D personnel, also have significantly positive effects; (3) firms in the chemical and automobile industries are more likely to receive R&D supports; and (4) firms in Teakyoung and Bukyoung regions are more likely to receive R&D supports.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.57-104
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• 2022

The government has supported the innovation of private firms by intervening the market for various purposes, such as preventing market failure, alleviating information asymmetry, and allocating resources efficiently. Although the government's R&D budget increased rapidly in the 2000s, it is not clear whether the government intervention has made desirable impact on the market. To address this, the current study attempts to explore this issue by doing a systematic literature review on foreign and domestic papers in an integrated way. In total, 168 studies are analyzed using contents analysis approach and various lens, such as policy additionality, policy tools, firm size, unit of analysis, data and method, are adopted for analysis. Overlapping policy target, time lag between government intervention and policy effects, non-linearity of financial supports, interference between different polices, and out-dated R&D tax incentive system are reported as factors hampering the effect of the government intervention. Many policy prescriptions, such as program evaluation indices reflecting behavioral additionality, an introduction of policy mix and evidence-based policy using machine learning, are suggested to improve these hurdles.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.97-119
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• 1991

Korea has made a rapid economic development since the last three decades. This has helped Korea narrow the gap in health service differences in resource availability and in quality of care. However urban and rural differentials are still remarkable. This study has maintained that health status of rural residents is inferior to that of urban dwellers. Therefore, this study was carried out to develop policy measures for improving health services in rural areas. In order to achieve the objective of this study the authors collaborated closely and made field visits, interviews and conducted an extensive literature review regarding rural health services. The following policy options are recommended as a summary ; First, the quality of rural health personnel is a single most important factor influencing the level of rural health services. An innovative program for public health doctors to the internship and/or residency training program such as specialty board program of family medicine. Second, dissatisfaction regarding employment of public health doctors is problematic. More rational employment and deployment programs are needed to meet their personal desire. One way to do this is to make it wide open and competitive. Third this study shows how to increase physician productivity in the rural public health sector. Incentive system needs to be elaborated for the career development of rural health workers. University linked job opportunity as clinical professor is an example. Fourth, without straightening the function of health centers and subcenters, the future of rural health services is doomed to failure. Straightening primary health care is one way to enrich the program of public health facilities and reactivating the operation of health center/hospital is another. A close linkage of public facilities with private hospitals is a minimum requirement for the operation of health delivery system within a health district. Fifth, some measures are urgently required to enhance hospital services in medically underserved areas. Financial subsidy, tax exemption, long-term public loans and higher priority of health manpower deployment are some of them. Sixth, new health programs should be in tiated to meet changing needs of peoples in rural areas. Home health care program, hospice program, nursing home, residential program for the elderly are recommended.

• Korean small business review
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.209-223
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• 2010

Korea's business is composed of a few large-sized enterprises (which can be abbreviated as LSE) and a majority of small-sized enterprises (SSE). Although there has been a growing recognition of the need for the development of medium-sized enterprises (MSE) which can serve as a link between SSE and LSE, as yet there has not yet been a consensus on the definition, characteristics and the function of the MSE in Korea. Nowadays, the world is being globalized, and Japan and China are in competition to ne a great economic power. While East Asia is experiencing rapid changes, promoting MSE which can secure flexibility and efficiency through covering up the limitation of LSE and SSE is needed in order to respond the global market which is being specialized. The features of MSE in Japan can be listed as follows. First, the MSE in Japan is developing the company through getting into niche markets which are hard for major companies to enter rather than developing markets in order to compete against major companies directly. While MSEs are endeavoring to build the business firmly in the domestic market, they can possess special and competitive technical skills through trials and errors; so that they can get a chance develop their business through independent business system rather than putting their effort to compete against major companies. Second, from the MSEs with competitive edge in the market, there are many contributions to the national exportation. Those MSEs produce in domestic and maintain the quality of high price products which need cutting-edge technology, while they relocate the low and middle priced goods to the country where manufacturing costs are low, so that they can maintain the price competitiveness. Third, the industrial structure in Japan is formed from dual structure between major companies and small sized companies. In other words, in Japan's industrial structure which are composed of subcontract structure, this dual structure has taken a major role of small sized companies' growth and manufacturing businesses' international competitive power. Forth, MSE in Japan adopt a strategy of putting their value on qualitative scale growth rather than quantitative scale growth. In this paper, the case of Japanese MSE is analyzed. Along with its long history of Industrialization, Japan has a corporate environment where the SSEs can develop as a MSE and later a LSE through a full-support system. Among its SSEs, there are a number of world class corporations equipped with a large domestic market, win-win cooperation with the LSEs and an independent technology development. It can also be observed that these SSEs develop into MSEs with sustainable growth potentials. This study will focus on the condition under which the MSEs of Japan have been developed, and how they have survived the competition between SSEs and LSEs. Through this study, this paper attempts to offer solutions to Korea's polarization between the SSE and LSE, while providing the basis for SSEs revitalization. In general, if both extremities phenomenon deepen between LSE and SSE, there are possible fears of occurring disutility in national economy by the monopolization of LSE. For that reason, enterprise group, which can make SSE or MSE compete LSE in some area and ease the monopoly and oligopoly problem, is needed. This awareness has been shared for ages long. Nevertheless, there is no legal definition for MSE in Japan, and there is no definition about the enterprise size or unified view of MSE between scholars, but it is defined differently by each of academical person or research institution and study meeting. For that reason, this paper will organize the definition of MSE in Japan, and then will propose the characteristics of the background which has made MSE secure competitiveness and sustainable growth in global market. This study focus on that because through this process, the positive change to the awareness of MSE can be proposed in Korea and to seek the policy direction for building institutional framework which can make SSE become MES. Through this way, the fundamentals for SSE to become MSE can be managed and some appropriate suggestions which will be able to make MSE enter the global market in the future can also be proposed. Due to these facts, this study is very important and well timed task. In a sense of this way, this study will examine the definition and role of MSE in Japan. after this examination, this study will deal with the status, special feature, and promotion policy for MSE. Through this analysis of MSE in Japan, the foundation which be able to set the desirable role model for MSE in Korea can be proposed. Also, the political implication which is needed to push ahead to contribute to creating employment and economic growth through sustainable growth of MSEs in economic system of Korea can be offered through this study. It has been found that Japan's MSE functions as an indispensable link among various industrial structures by holding a significant position in employment rate, production and value added. Although the MSEs took up less than 1% of the entire number of businesses with 2700 manufacturing firms and 7000 non-manufacturing firms, its employment ratios are about 15%, while taking about 25% of the manufacturing industry's exports. In industries such as machinery and electronics which is considered Japan's major industry, the MSEs showed a higher than average ratio of manufacturing exports and employment rate. It can be analyzed that behind Japan's advantageous industries, close and deeply knit MSEs exist. Although there are no clearly stated policies geared towards the MSEs by the Japanese government, various political measures exist such as the R&D Project and the inducement of cooperation between enterprises which gives room for MSEs to participate in the SSE policies. In relation to these findings, the following practical measures can be considered in order to revitalize Korea's MSEs: First, there is a need for a legal definition of MSE and the incentives to provide legal support for its growth. Second, if a law to support the MSEs is established, it could provide a powerful inducement for the SSE to grow as a MSE, rather than stay as a SSE. Third, there is a need for a strategy of MSEs to establish a stable base in the domestic market and then advance to the global market with the accumulated trial and error and competitiveness. Fourth, the SSE themselves need the spirit of entrepreneurship in order to make the leap to a MSE. Because if nothing is to be changed about the system on the firms that grew, and the parts of the past custom was left to be managed alone, confusion and absence of management can take place. No matter how much tax favors the government will give and no matter how much incentive there could be through the policies, there are limits for industries to higher the ability to propagate. And because of that it is a period where industries need their own innovative skills to reform their firms.