Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of household income drops on household economic status during economic crisis periods. Using the data taken from Korean Household Panel Study for 1996 and 1998, it was investigated how household income change affected household income, expenditure, and assets/debt. The economic status change of the income-decreased group was compared with that of the income-increased group. The major findings were as follows: Average income of the total sample was 1,905 thousand won in 1996, while 1,419 thousand won in 1998. The household of which income was decreased during the period was 65.1% of total sample. Average income of the group was reduced from 2,263 thousand won to 1,239 thousand won. Among income sources, the amount of income from real asset was found to be the highest decreasing rate, and the amounts of both business and employed-work income were reduced almost up to an half of those in two years ago. The amounts for all expenditure categories were also decreased with decreasing household income. Especially the expenditures for food away from home, leisure, durable, recreation, and vehicle-related expense were found to have the highest income elasticity. The households with decreased income were found to reduce household expenditures by 377 thousand won per month, which was 70.9% of that in 1996. Decreases in household income resulted in decreases in net wealth by 10,170 thousand won. With decreases in household income, the amounts of total insurance and private savings such as gye were decreased, and so were the amounts of real assets and monetary assets.