Social Economy Program Doctoral Students Lee Ji-hyun and Lim Na-yeon Win First Prize in the 2026 Social and Solidarity..
- 작성처
- Date2026.07.28
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Study Highlights the Sustainability of Economic Participation for People with Developmental Disabilities Through a Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystem Perspective, Proposing a Community-Based Inclusive Employment Model
Lee Ji-hyun and Lim Na-yeon, doctoral students in the Graduate Program in Social Economy at the Graduate School of Ewha Womans University, won First Prize (Excellence Award) in the 2026 Social and Solidarity Economy Research Competition hosted by the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration. Their award recognizes the academic originality and policy relevance of their research, which offers a new interpretation of the sustainability of economic participation among people with developmental disabilities through the lens of the social and solidarity economy.
Their award-winning study, titled “Mechanisms and Policy Design Principles of the Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystem for Sustaining the Economic Participation of People with Developmental Disabilities: Focusing on the Case of Ansim Village in Daegu,” argues that the economic participation of people with developmental disabilities should be understood not simply in terms of employment status or length of employment, but as an ongoing process in which participation in economic activities is sustained and reconnected throughout their lives. Drawing on in-depth interviews conducted in Ansim Village in Daegu, the researchers identified the key mechanisms that enable sustained economic participation and found that a community environment that supports re-engagement is the most critical factor in maintaining long-term economic participation.
Moving beyond conventional approaches that explain the economic participation of people with disabilities primarily through individual capabilities, the study presents a new perspective by demonstrating that social and solidarity economy ecosystems and community networks play a central role in creating sustainable economic participation. The research has been recognized for offering valuable implications for the development of inclusive employment policies and community-based social service models.
Reflecting on the award, the two researchers said,“This study began with a question of how people sustain economic participation throughout their lives, rather than focusing solely on employment rates as an outcome. We sought to academically demonstrate the role of the social and solidarity economy as an ecosystem that enables sustainable lives for vulnerable populations.”
Building on this achievement, the research team plans to further expand its work on the sustainability of economic participation among vulnerable groups, including people with developmental disabilities. They also aim to develop the study for publication in an international academic journal, exploring how social and solidarity economy ecosystems contribute to building inclusive communities and creating sustainable employment opportunities.
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