Korean Economic Association to Hold Joint Academic Conference on the 2nd... "Seeking Solutions for Population Decline in the Korean Economy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The Korean Economic Association will hold the '2023 Joint Economic Conference' on the 2nd and 3rd at Korea University in Seoul to seek solutions for the Korean economy amid population decline.

A total of 1,500 researchers from 58 economic-related academic societies will participate in this conference, and about 450 papers are expected to be presented.

In the afternoon, Lee Jong-hwa, president of the Korean Economic Association (Korea University), delivered a keynote speech titled "Growth Models with Declining Population and Their Application to the Korean Economy," emphasizing that "Korea's population will continue to decline in the future, but economic growth is not determined proportionally to population growth rate," and that "technological progress, capital accumulation through investment, and qualitative improvement of the labor force can be driving forces for sustainable economic growth."

Following this, in the panel session, Professor Kang Chang-hee of Chung-Ang University reviewed analytical methods for policy evaluation and introduced domestic and international cases. Professor Kim Se-ik of Korea University discussed the latest research results analyzing individual effects of policies using various causal analysis methods.

Senior Research Fellow Heo Jae-jun of the Korea Labor Institute analyzed that income inequality has increased worldwide due to the diffusion of general-purpose technologies and globalization, and particularly in Korea, wage gaps by firm size and gender have widened. He proposed improvements in institutions, norms, and practices to overcome these issues. Professor Lee Jung-min of Seoul National University discussed the positive and negative effects of reduced working hours on the Korean economy and pointed out that technological advancement, improvement of compensation systems, and efficient allocation of manpower are important for the actual reduction of working hours.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon plans to deliver a special speech on the 2nd dinner under the theme "Companionship and Attractive Special City Seoul."

On the 3rd, Kim Heung-jong, president of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, is scheduled to give a keynote speech titled "Will Economic Security Change the Global Economic Paradigm?" In special sessions, recent important economic issues will be discussed under themes such as ▲ sustainable finance ▲ growth and transformation of the platform economy ▲ solutions to income polarization and welfare blind spots ▲ Seoul Safe Income.