A Contribution to the National Economy System of Unpaid Household Labor

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association 2002;40(10):161-176.

무보수 가사노동의 국민경제에 대한 기여도 평가

문숙재, 윤소영, 김은희

이화여자대학교 소비자인간발달학과

ABSTRACT

This study is a basic research for the estimation of the value of unpaid household labor within the national economy system to be reflected in the related policy-making. By measuring economic value of unpaid household labor and estimating the ration to GDP, this study attempted to confirm the productivity of the unpaid household labor and thus contribute to the improvement of socio-economic status of women. Especially, it focused on the development of a standard of estimating unpaid household labor as a method applicable to the present economic and legal system. To organize the method of economic valuation of unpaid household labor and calculate the ration to GDP, this study used three approaches: replacement cost method individual function, replacement cost method generalist and opportunity cost method. Although the estimated result revealed that the economic value of unpaid household labor showed a great extent of deviation according to the estimating methods and the wage rate, total value of household labor ranged from one hundred and thirty eight to two hundred and thirty trillion wens, about 28-48% of GDP in Korea.