한미 FTA에 대한 소비자 시장 전망

Abstract

This study investigated consumer expectations regarding changes in consumer markets brought by KORUS FTA. A survey was conducted to collect data about consumer expectations of the 10 consumption goods and services markets in terms of 7 markets elements including variety of consumer choices, quality of products, price, consumer information, AS, consumer problems, and remedy. The major findings were as follows. First, consumers showed positive expectations in terms of variety of choices, quality of products, consumer information, AS, and remedy for consumer problems, but had negative expectations in terms of consumer problems. Regarding the markets of auto, electronic appliances, and financial services, consumers expected improvements in terms of variety of choices, quality of products, and customer services. Regarding communication services market, consumers expected improvements in terms of prices, AS, remedy for consumer problems. Second, the five dimensions of the consumer market expectations were extracted from the factor analysis: customer services, quality of the markets, consumer problems, prices, and farm products. The expectation scores were highest for the quality of the markets, and lowest for the consumer problems. Third, the consumer market expectations of the quality of the markets and farm products were significantly associated with the consumer evaluation of the benefit from the KOTUS FTA. Males and upper income class had significantly positive expectations about the KOTUS FTA than others, but middle income class and metropolitan residences had significantly negative expectations. Lastly, based on the results, the implications for consumer policy were suggested.