A Single Case Study on Chungbuk Social Economy Fund

Abstract

This study is to understand the objectives, the operating principles, and the conservation and expansion strategies of the “Chungbuk Social Economy Fund”, which is a privately-run community-based social economy fund. For this purpose, data were gathered through in-depth interviews with representatives or executives of 4 companies with funding and 2 companies receiving funding and analyzed by a single case study method. As as result of the analysis, 62 concepts were constructed and classified into 11 themes: ‘autonomous welfare from dependence on institutions’, ‘motivation of challenges’, ‘willingness to troubleshoot and empowerment’, ‘elimination of gaps in the system’, ‘promotion of community-based institutions through culture and education’, ‘democratic management’, ‘pursuit of pragmatism’, ‘transparency and authenticity’, ‘various attempts to expand fund’, ‘virtuous circle of reciprocity’, ‘promotion of repayment obligation for the prevention of moral hazard’. And these were integrated into purpose, operating principles, and conservation and expansion strategy of three analytical units: The results of the analysis show that “Chungbuk Social Economy Fund” can be evaluated as a grassroots self-help fund, but external extension and expansion of funds for fund stabilization are key issues to be considered. Based on the results of this study, practical and policy guidelines of the ways to be settled and extended of the fund were discussed.