Discussion on the Distribution of Social Welfare Tasks and Financial Burden Sharing between Metropolitan and Local Autonomous Entities: Focusing on the City of Busan

Abstract

We need to propose effective improvements in line with the principle of strengthening the roles of local autonomous entities and expanding their autonomy in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to analyze the allocation of social welfare tasks and the relationship of welfare finance between metropolitan and local autonomous entities. Then, this study proposes new directions for improving these relationships. This study focuses on Busan as a case study to analyze the welfare-finance relations between metropolitan municipalities and their autonomous districts. In this research, differences were observed in the scale of local tax revenues among the autonomous districts (Gu’s) of Busan, each displaying a fragile revenue structure. Most spending projects in these districts were social welfare programs funded by subsidies. The proportion of social welfare expenses in Busan's autonomous districts has continually increased over the past decade, while financial independence and autonomy have decreased. The rise in mandatory social welfare expenditures was likely a major factor in the decrease in financial independence. Reforming the welfare finance sharing system requires adjustments to the metropolitan autonomous entity’s budget, enhancing welfare finance in autonomous districts, and restructuring administration and finance in those districts. Medium- to long-term efforts and innovations are required to reform the welfare administration and fiscal sharing system in local autonomous entities.