Recently how to determine the level of councilmen's salaries became the central issue in Korea. But previous studies in public administration have not presented a sound basis enough for solving the issues of councilmen's salaries. Hence, the purpose o...
Recently how to determine the level of councilmen's salaries became the central issue in Korea. But previous studies in public administration have not presented a sound basis enough for solving the issues of councilmen's salaries. Hence, the purpose of this study is to empirically analyze the perceptions that voters and councilmen have of the issues of local councilmen's salaries, and then to suggest some policy implications for how to determine the level of councilmen's salaries.
To achieve this purpose, this study reviewed the existing literature about agency theory, stewardship theory, and the various systems related with councilmen's salaries of Korea and some advanced countries. Agency theory and stewardship theory implied that voter-councilman relationships could be a principal-agent or a principal-steward relationship. And comparative analysis among advanced countries showed that most of them have fixed salary systems and have adopted stewardship theory based salary policies.
Based on theoretical backgrounds, previous studies, and a researcher's intuition, this study established a framework of analysis and study hypotheses. To get a reliable data, extensive field surveys were carried out. Respondents were voters and councilmen living in 25 boroughs, Seoul. Final sample sizes were 1,022 and 213 respectively.
After testing study hypotheses, meaningful results were yielded. There exist statistically significant differences of perceptions the issues of councilmen's salaries between voters and councilmen. However, both groups don't support the existing salary system of Korea alike. Councilmen prefer a fixed salary system to voters but voters prefer a incentive system based on a performance evaluation of each local council. Voters have agent-type images of councilmen predominatingly and prefer agency theory based salary policies. In contrast, councilmen have steward-type self images predominatingly and prefer stewardship theory based salary policies.
Also, multiple regression analysis models yielded meaningful results. Some variables have statistically significant positive or negative effects on perceived councilmen's salaries on each side of voters and councilmen. [Voters : Image of Councilmen(-), Present Salary Level(-), Income Level(-), Perceived Procedural Fairness(-), Councilmen : Present Salary Level(+), Perceived Procedural Fairness(+), Perceived Fairness of the Media(+), Work Time in Office(-)]. And multinomial logit models yielded meaningful results. Image of Local Councilmen and Income Level factors have effects on Voter's Preference for Councilmen's Salary Systems. And Perceived Salary Level has an effect on Councilmen's Preference for Salary Systems.
Based on theses results, this study proposed desirable policy directions about how to determine the level of councilmen's salaries as follow. In the short run, the authority concerned should adopt agent-theory based salary policies in light of negative images of councilmen and voters's opinions. For example, a mixed salary system composed of moderate fixed salaries and a portion of incentives will be implemented. But in the long term, the authority concerned should adopt stewardship theory based salary policies. For example, a pure fixed salary system or project-based bounty system will be implemented.