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national research institute has published a research report that analyzes the dysfunction of local currency that is widely used these days.

However, over this, Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myeong accused Gyeonggi Province of being a'stupid study' and insisted that investigation and censure should be conducted.



Reporter Hwa Kang-yoon reports.



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Local currency issued by local governments to revitalize the local economy and support the underprivileged is sold at a 10% discount instead of restricting where and where it is used.



This year, the volume of issuance will increase to 9 trillion won, and 900 billion won in subsidies from the government and local governments will be invested to issue discounts.



The Institute for Taxation and Finance, a state-run research institute, pointed out that the effect of local currency's revitalizing the local economy is in return for the contraction of the economy in neighboring regions.



As a whole, it reduces consumer welfare.



In addition, it was analyzed that this year alone, there would be a net economic loss of over 226 billion won, including subsidies and issuance costs.



The researcher said that even analyzing the data of the National Statistical Office's total survey of businesses across the country, the effects of local currency increasing employment or sales were not observed.



Gyeonggi Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myeong, who has been promoting the expansion of local currency, started a call.



"It completely denies the government's core policy goals," he criticized as "a stupid institution."



The statistics used in the study are data up to 2018 and are contrary to the results of other institutions' studies.



He said, "It's close to political arguments, so strict investigations and reprimands are essential."



The researchers rebutted that the 2018 data are the most up-to-date, but rather that studies advocating local currency are inadequate.



[Jojangok / Sogang University professor emeritus: how ought to that opportunity to think a critical time and a lot of research done in (the policy) objective and yinya reasonable, did it should not be filled even such a study]



on the academics of the governor claims Criticism prevails as a pressure on freedom of study.



(Video coverage: Kim Min-cheol, video editing: Commissioner Yang)