농촌 지역의 사회적 경제 실태와 활성화 방안

Abstract

사회적 경제에 관한 관심이 고조되고 있다. 이러한 현상은 협동조합 기본법 제정 등 사회적 경제 조직 관련 법 제정, 정책 사업 추진과 함께 가속화되고 있다. 농촌 지역에서도 사회적 경제 조직은 양적으로 증가하고 그 입지를 넓히고 있으며 지역 주민들이 협동조합을 조직하여 당면 문제를 해결하는 등 활발한 움직임이 드러나고 있다.

농촌 지역이 안고 있는 여러 분야의 문제들에 대한 대응 측면에서 사회적 경제는 중요한 역할을 할 수 있다. 주민들의 자율성과 적극성을 바탕으로 한 문제 해결 전략이라는 점에서도 그 가치와 가능성을 높이 살 만하다. 이러한 사회적 경제 실천이 활성화되려면 현 상황에 대한 정확한 진단이 선행되어야 한다.

주민의 주도성, 연대 등 사회적 경제의 원리에 기초한 사회적 경제의 실천은 쉬운 일이 아닐 것이다. 그러나 장기적인 관점으로 볼 때 사회적 경제의 기반을 잘 마련하는 것은 농촌 지역이 당면할 다양한 문제 상황 해결에 큰 역할을 할 수 있다.

이 연구는 우리나라 농촌 지역의 사회적 경제 조직 실태를 전반적으로 파악하고 있다. 또한 사회적 경제 조직들의 네트워크와 지방에서의 관련 거버넌스 실태를 분석하고자 하였다.

Research Background Recently, as the structure of rural population has become more complicated, a social exclusion problem is becoming more severe. There are some rural residents who make an effort to improve their quality of life for themselves by using a bottom-up approach in rural areas. In addition, there have been some legislation or policies that contain the concepts of social economy in them. In the field of policy study, there is a discussion about the possibility of using social economy strategies in the perspective of rural development based on some domestic or foreign cases. However, discussions about how the rural policies can embrace social economy strategies more specifically are rarely accomplished. It is necessary to analyze the situation of social economy organizations in rural areas in depth and comprehensively to establish a logical or complementary relationship between the legislative system and the various policies regarding the social economy.

Research Method In order to carry out research, various methods and data were employed. Several preceding researches have been reviewed in order to grasp the trend of theories and discussions about the social economy. Analysis on the current situation of social economy organizations has been conducted by examining policy materials such as regulations and law regarding the social economy and performing a survey, an interview and a case study. The survey, the interview, and a literature investigation have been utilized to study social economy networks. On the basis of these analyses, we drew some policy tasks to be solved for the revitalization of the social economy in rural areas. The subject of study is limited to the newly emerging types of social economy organizations such as self-support businesses, social enterprises, cooperatives, community businesses, and rural community corporations.

Conclusion and Implication of Research The number of social economy organizations in rural areas is presumed to be about 2,500 to 3,000, and more than half of these organizations were established during the past three years. Employees of newly formed social economy organizations account for 1.1~1.4% of whole employees in the areas and the ratio has shown rapid increase lately. The ‘social purpose’ of the social economy organizations in rural areas is mostly to offer a job opportunity to socially disadvantaged class or social services. More than half of these organizations are managing their work in the field of agriculture or agriculture-related fields. While the most important financing source is sales income, profits from offering public services also account for about 12.6% of the total finances. Social economy organizations usually reinvest their profit or surplus and 12.5% of their profit or surplus are returned to society. The biggest problem in terms of management is ‘lack of funds’. Only about 10% of rural local governments have built a foundation for forming governance with the social economy sector by modifying ordinance. There are some policy suggestions to revitalize the social economy in rural areas. First, the social economy should be based on the needs of local people. By attaining more broad supports from the local society members, one organization could widen their market opportunity and utilize social capital more easily. Second, networks among the social economy organizations should be deepened and expanded. While the institute of social economy unity should take the lead in supporting social economy organizations’ establishment process, local governments or lower level agents than them should be constructed as the principal agents assisting social economy organizations. It is necessary to broaden ‘relationship transaction’ among social economy organizations and form an investment network to retain sustainability of the social economy. Third, a vertical governance system should be overcome and localization of social economy governance needs to be accelerated and be more applicable on the ground. Detailed guidelines should be reviewed and improved to propel policies building a partnership with the social economy sector and convey services in rural areas. Finally, the role of local governance should be defined to promote governance which is based on the partnership with the social economy sector. Ordinances should be enacted or modified so as to include social economy organizations’ offering public services by contract with the public sector or preferential procurement of products from social economy organizations. In addition, social economy support institutions need to be established and they should be supported to perform their supporting role under no partitions in terms of using funds or other resources and be given funds for operating costs, especially labor costs.

Researchers: Kim Jeongseop and Lim Jieun Research period: 2015. 1. ~ 2015. 10. E-mail address: jskkjs@krei.re.kr