우리나라 소상공인 공제제도의 활성화 방안 - 일본의 소규모기업 공제제도운영 모델을 중심으로 -

Most of small business owners are self-employed, running business under unfavorable conditions. Economic recession has driven many small business owners to close down their businesses without any support to help them start again and sustain living. Domestically, no system has been implemented for small businesses to start anew in case of bankruptcy,disaster and death. Failure of small businesses leads to their employees’ job loss and resulting problems in society overall. Therefore, a mutual benefit system for small business owners is needed to address the issue. The present study investigated Japanese mutual benefit system models for small businesses, or the small business owners, that started as early as in 1965 to contribute to developing a mutual benefit system for small business owners at home. Domestically, a mutual benefit system for small business owners has been adopted in practice since 2007 in preparation for their retirement and closure of business due to illness or injury. Yet, many small business owners have no idea of the mutual benefit system, whose implementation is far from being seamless. Also, this study found that some respondents did not find it necessary to join the mutual benefit system for small business owners in preparation for retirement due to ageing or for closure of business resulting from bankruptcy,disaster and death. Hence, the authority in charge of the mutual benefit system for small business owners is required to wage diverse marketing campaigns to attract new members further and to make efforts to activate the system via accurate public information and extensive government support.