Research Reports
A Study on Economic Activities and Income of the Rural Elderly in Korea
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AuthorPark, Daeshik
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Publication Date2004.12.01
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Original
ABSTRACT
The main purposes of this study are as follows:
1) to investigate economic activities and income of the rural elderly in Korea;
2) to identify the current conditions and problems of the related policies; and
3) to suggest some policy implications.
The major research methods include the collection of existing related data, field survey, and so on. The field survey was conducted for the elderly residents of 8 villages, asking them about their economic activities and income level (aged 65 or older). Existing related data were collected by searching the data of related governmental organizations and research institutes. Descriptive statistics (such as frequencies, percentage, and means) and cross-classification tables were used to organize and summarize the data of the field survey.
According to the results of the field survey, 56.5% of the respondents answered that they are participating in farming. Most (78.8%) elderly farmers expressed their intention to continue to conduct farming. Only a small percentage (3.5%) of the respondents answered that they are participating in non-farm economic activities. About two thirds of the respondents had the annual household income less than 10,010,000 won. Average annual household income of the respondents was 11,730,000 won. About one half of the respondents were found to spend less than 500,000 won in monthly living expenses. The average monthly living expenses of the respondents were 710,000 won.
The policy implications of this study are that it is necessary
1) to have a right perspective about the rural elderly;
2) to prepare the legal and institutional measures for assisting the economic activities and securing the incomes of the rural elderly;
3) to develop the differential approach based on the social group and class;
4) to develop the elderly friendly agricultural policies;
5) to provide farming education suitable for the rural elderly;
6) to arrange various non-farming works; and
7) to improve the welfare programs for the rural elderly.
Researcher: Dae-Shik Park
E-mail Address: pds8382@krei.re.kr
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