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The Political and Social Economy of Care in South Korea

The Political and Social Economy of Care in South Korea. Ito Peng Department of Sociology, and School of Public Policy and Governance University of Toronto Presented at WIDE Conference Basel, Switzerland June 18, 2009. Why Korea?.

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The Political and Social Economy of Care in South Korea

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  1. The Political and Social Economy of Care in South Korea Ito Peng Department of Sociology, and School of Public Policy and Governance University of Toronto Presented at WIDE Conference Basel, Switzerland June 18, 2009

  2. Why Korea? • Korea – a perfect example of North-South socio-economic context. • North • Erosion of male breadwinner model household • Care crisis • South • Large informal sector • Pervasive labour market discrimination against women • Under-developed welfare state

  3. Korean care regime • Familialistic • Strong male breadwinner model • But, social policy changes suggest possible shift to modified familialism and modified male breadwinner

  4. Recent Policy Reforms • Time • 90 day full paid maternity leave • 3 day full paid paternity leave • 9 mo parental leave @ 500,000 Won/mo • Flexible hour/part-time work • Service • Child care expansion • Money • Child care support

  5. Childcare Expansion

  6. Childcare Expansion • Total number of children enrolled in childcare centres: 48,000 (1990) – 1,099,033 (2007) • Total number of childcare centres: 1,919 (1990) - 29,823 (2007) • Percentage of children in childcare or pre-schools (2004): 59.5% (3 year old) 66.4% (4 year old) 88.7% (5 year old)

  7. Childcare Expansion • Natl gov. budgets for ECE: 356 billion Won (2002) - 886 billion Won (2006) • for Childcare: 435 billion (2002) - 2,038 billion (2006)

  8. Why and How of the reform • Demographic, economic, and political imperatives • Low fertility – rapid population ageing – labour shortage • Economic crisis – labour market restructuring – economic stimulation and job creation • Gender equality demands • Social investment in care as a useful policy framework to address different policy agenda

  9. Total fertility rates in South Korea between 1955 and 2050 (estimates)

  10. Social Investment in Childcare • Social investment strategy • Focus on social welfare and care sector • Demands, opportunities • International trend and support • Virtuous circle between social and economic developments • Social care as a new growth engine

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