On Aug 15 2012, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou told visiting 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammad Yunus that building a Taiwan society in which all members can fully participate and enjoy the fruits of their labors has long been a goal of the government. He added that narrowing the island’s wealth gap is a top priority for his administration, with no effort being spared in achieving greater equality for all.
Yunus, a renowned philanthropist who started the Grameen Bank project in 1976 to help the poor in Bangladesh, was all ears as Ma elaborated on his commitment to leveling the playing field for Taiwan’s haves and have nots, vowing to ensure that every citizen is afforded an equal opportunity to participate in the economy and make a full contribution to national output.
There is no question that Taiwan’s wealth divide, among the smallest in the Asia-Pacific region, has been growing for the past decade. This is of concern given the remarkable resilience of the economy in the face of local and overseas challenges. Yet if the fruits of such praiseworthy economic performance cannot be shared by all, then there is little point in striving for such goals.
The pursuit of economic growth, while important, is no more than a means to an end—the end being to build a just and prosperous society with egalitarian distribution of wealth. Since Ma took office May 2008, strategies for Taiwan’s economic development have not focused exclusively on growth at all costs, but placed equal importance on fairness and well-being. In other words, as the government boosts economic growth, it is devising the means to alleviate the problems of unemployment and poverty.
To date, the government has done everything in its power to adjust industrial structures, expand social welfare benefits, increase employment opportunities and look after the needs of vulnerable groups. At the same time, it has continued to promote tax reform and implement a progressive program of legislative improvements.
Simply stated, the government refuses to sit idly by and leave impoverished families with nowhere to turn to for help. Wherever there is poverty, caring attention is being given and a helping hand extended.
The true greatness of a nation is not measured solely by economic performances and accomplishments on the international stage, but rather the capacity to care for those members of society who struggle to make ends meet and find themselves increasingly marginalized through no fault of their own. The ROC government has proven its pedigree in this regards and will continue adopting the strongest measures when it comes to narrowing the wealth gap.
