Health and Welfare Policy Forum

Family-Related Social Spending in OECD SOCX: Trends and Fiscal Projections

  • Author

    Na, Wonhee

  • Page

    44-57

  • PubDate

    2025. 10.

  • Language

    kor

In this study, I analyze Korea’s social expenditures related to family policies in comparison with those of other OECD countries and make simulation-based expenditure projections through 2030. This study finds that while Korea’s family policy expenditure structure, oriented toward in-kind support, has lent itself to improved services and greater public provision in early childhood education and care, spending on family allowances and parental leave benefits has consequently remained disproportionately low, falling far short of the OECD average. The expenditure on family-related benefits increased in absolute terms over the period 2019-2022. As a share of GDP, however, the increase is only from 0.30 percent to 0.39 percent for cash benefits and from 0.99 percent to 1.26 percent for in-kind benefits. For Korea’s family-related expenditure to reach the OECD average by 2030, an additional outlay of KRW 27-32 trillion would be required―a goal achievable only through active expenditure expansion. The findings suggest that Korea’s family policy must broaden its current focus on care services to include increased cash support, especially in child benefit, family benefits, and paid parental leave.

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