2022/05/12 |
Taiwan’s Lost Growth (Part 1): How Far Has Taiwan’s Economy Fallen Behind Other Countries Due To Stagnant Wages?
When wages don’t grow, household expenditures and ultimately business profits stagnate as well. Here’s how this has played out in Taiwan.
2021/12/07 |
Taiwan’s Businesses Can Afford to Contribute More to Social Security
Taiwan’s employers not only pay low wages to workers but also contribute little to the country’s social security. It is one of the lowest among high-income countries as a proportion of the economy.
2022/01/13 |
Taiwan’s Businesses Are Increasing Prices To Earn Higher Profits
Average consumers will take a hit, while businesses will continue to earn high profits from the recent price increases.
2022/02/11 |
Lithuania’s Minimum Wage Is More Adequate for Its Cost of Living Than Taiwan’s
Though lower in nominal terms, Lithuania’s minimum wage is more adequate for its cost of living than Taiwan’s, and catching up fast.
2018/11/26 |
OPINION: Why the DPP Lost Taiwan's Local Elections
President Tsai Ing-wen should summon up the courage to be the progressive Taiwan's young voters put into power in 2016, or risk the collapse of the DPP's reform project.
2020/09/08 |
Are Singaporeans Getting Ripped off by Their Social Welfare Programs?
Even though the money in Singapore's retirement and health insurance schemes continues to grow, Singaporeans can only withdraw a pathetically small amount.
2017/04/17 |
Is Taiwan’s Freedom Better than Singapore's ‘Caged Canaries’ and Hong Kong’s 'Lost Soul’?
[OPINION] Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong: Three very different fates for three Asian tigers.
2017/05/05 |
The Prime Minister or The People: Just Who is Stealing Lunches in Singapore?
[OPINION] The Singapore Prime Minister’s fixation on stealing other people’s lunches has raised questions of paranoia, competitiveness, double standards and inequality in Singapore.
2018/02/06 |
The Bitter Truth: Why Asia's Tigers Suffer while the Nordics Thrive (Part 2)
The root of low wages is inequality, and at the root of inequality lies cronyism and closely held corporate control.
2018/02/07 |
The Bitter Truth: Why Asia's Tigers Suffer while the Nordics Thrive (Part 3)
Democratic societies like Taiwan can still fall victim to an authoritarian corporate environment.
2022/09/21 |
Taiwan’s Economic Slowdown (Part 2): Taiwan’s High Profit Margins Mask Its Slow Economic Growth
Taiwan’s high profits are eating into labor’s share of the economic pie — and hampering growth.
2018/02/08 |
The Bitter Truth: Why Asia's Tigers Suffer while the Nordics Thrive (Part 4)
Taiwan’s social welfare system stands out – it just doesn't feel like it because low wages make the benefits look insufficient.
2020/09/09 |
Taiwan’s Rigged Economy Dampens Innovation
Taiwan’s workers have taken the lowest share of GDP among comparable countries for the past two decades.
2020/08/28 |
The Pay in Taiwan Is Too Damn Low
Taiwan’s minimum wage is not just lower than the international standard. Its rate of growth has lagged.
2020/09/03 |
Who’s the Real Free Rider? Singapore’s Government Reserve Racket
“You have to be able to spend what you are able to earn,” said Singapore's Prime Minister. Truly?
2018/11/28 |
Taiwan's Young, Progressive Voters Left to Question What Comes Next
Tsai Ing-wen says she wants to listen to the young voices of Taiwan. Here's what they are saying.
2020/04/23 |
Singapore’s POFMA Corrections Over Ho Ching’s Salary Raise Uncomfortable Questions
Taiwanese media sparked public debate about the salary of Ho Ching, Singapore’s First Lady. The Singapore government swiftly attempted to shut down debate with its “anti-fake news” law.
2017/06/05 |
Stark Reality: Singaporeans Waking from the Housing Dream
[OPINION] How Singapore's pension-housing financing model squeezes its citizens.