지자체 통합정책에 대한 한·일 비교 연구

A Comparative Study on the Municipal Consolidation Policy between Korea and Japan

Substantial budgets and national energy have invested in consolidation of local government. However, some attempt of consolidation give rise to severe conflict as well as there are few successful consolidation. The purpose of this paper is to find out the efficient ways to promote consolidation of local government in korea by comparison with Japanese consolidation policy. The comparative analysis is conducted by focusing on the policy objectives and backgrounds, policy contents, consolidation process and strategies, performance of consolidation. Japanese local system investigation committee has institutional stability including mayors and local councilors as committee members contrary to korea s promoting committee for local administrative system. Both countries provide similar incentives on consolidation, but in Japan, there is asymmetrical decentralization system. Furthermore, Japanese government changed finance adjustment system on local government to enhance self-reliance. It is turns out that the performance gap between korea s inactive consolidation and Japan s massive consolidation mainly results from institutional differences above mentioned. Therefore, it is required to refer the Japanese case carefully for the Korean successful consolidation policy.