2010, Vol.16, No.2

Tackling Juveniles' Anti-Social Behaviors

Kim, Soon Yang | 2010, 16(2) | pp.1~56 | number of Cited : 5

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A Study on the Factors that Influence Health Care Expenditure of a Nation

Chulsoo Kim , Ellis Y. Kim | 2010, 16(2) | pp.57~92 | number of Cited : 4

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This cross-national study examines the factors that affect the healthcare expenditure of a country. Six different groups of variables are studied using the multiple regression method. The variables included are GDP, proportion of population over 65, healthcare system (represented by the numbers of physicians and hospital beds), health status (represented by percentage of babies immunized for measles, infant mortality rate), health risks (represented by tobacco prevalence among the people higher than age of 15), and inequality (indicated by the GINI index). Data were collected from the World Development Indicators database of the World Bank and from the World Health Organization database. Data collected are mainly from 2005. Models were constructed to include all the countries(86), then the countries were divided into four different income levels to examine the explanatory variables. The results show that an influential factor of the healthcare expenditure is the GDP of a nation, GINI index, infant mortality rate, as well as the proportion of the population over the age of 65. The results also show that the factors that determine the healthcare expenditures of a nation are different between the income brackets: the countries with less income were typically affected by the GDP, whereas the countries with higher income were mostly affected by healthcare system (represented by the numbers of physicians and hospital beds). GINI index was important variable for all the income brackets except high-middle income category. Since Korea belongs to high-middle income category, various factors, such as the healthcare system and health risks, influence its healthcare expenditure. However, while the proportion of population over the age of 65 is increasing rapidly, Korea has relatively high GINI index but low public expenditure. Therefore, if the public expenditure does not increase, the burden of private healthcare cost for each individual would inevitably increase. Compared to other countries with similar income level, healthcare expenditure of Korea is then more susceptible, and will rise faster than the countries with comparable GDP.

Global Economic Crisis and German Economic and Social Policy against the crisis

Eoh, Kiy Ku | 2010, 16(2) | pp.93~129 | number of Cited : 2

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The Effect of Social capital on Health-Promoting Behaviors of the Poor

임재영 , Lee, Tae-jin , 배상수 and 3 other persons | 2010, 16(2) | pp.131~180 | number of Cited : 26

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An Analysis of Aligning the Relationship between Long-term care policy for the Disabled and NLTC for Elders: Focusing on the Service Benefits and the Estimation of the Service Needs

Kim, Chan-Woo | 2010, 16(2) | pp.181~222 | number of Cited : 10

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A Preliminary Conceptualization of the Functions of Social Assistance: From Poor Relief to Social Investment

JO, JOON YONG | 2010, 16(2) | pp.223~252 | number of Cited : 0

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The Vocationalization and Professionalization of Chinese Social Workers and the Shanghai Model

Won,Seok-Jo | 2010, 16(2) | pp.253~294 | number of Cited : 6

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The Chinese government made the Provisional Regulations on the Assessment of the Vocational Standards of Social Workers and the Measures for the Implementation of the Examination Regarding Professional Qualifications of Social Workers, and according these two rules the first qualification test of social worker was implemented on 2006. This paper intended to review the issues as well as the background and major contents of the vocationalization and professionalization of chinese social workers. For the purpose, the current conditions of social work education and social welfare institutions, ‘Harmonious Society,’ the central governmental system of social workers, so-called Shanghai Model were analyzed. Major issues of the vocationalization and professionalization of chinese social workers are as follows;First, the status of social workers are very low. The incomes and work conditions of social workers are inferior. So the graduates of university do not perfer the vocation of social workers. And chinese people don't know the role of social workers well. Second, the quality of social workers are relatively low. The social welfare services are provided by public officials not professional social workers. There are a few qualified social workers in social welfare institutions. A few qualified professors of social work departments of universities, and relatively low level of social work skills and careers which the qualification test needs are the reasons. Third, social workers need strong government support. Every social work professions want the governmental, especially financial support to develop the social worker systems. Almost all social welfare institutions are financially very weak and strongly depending on the government. Fourth, the job market of social workers is too much small. Many social work professions said there are so many fields which need social workers. But in real world a little fields need social workers, and it's not easy for social workers to become the public servants of the governmental social welfare departments. However, now the communist government sees social workers as a partner of the ‘Harmonious Society.’ So the future of vocationalization and professionalization of chinese social workers is bright.

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Korea Social Policy Review 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 2.47

2010, Vol.16, No.2