Competition Policy: One Theory, Three Systems. Neither China nor Hong Kong are likely to adopt workable competition laws in the near future. The Taiwan experience is positive
There are few subjects more important to governments than economic growth and development; the key question is how best to achieve them. The governments of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are no different to other jurisdictions is this respect. All three entities now subscribe, to a greater or lesser extent, to market-orientated solutions to economic problems. But few governments are prepared to tolerate a complete laissez faire economy. All governments seek to regulate their economies to some ex...
Taiwan: Democracy's gone awry?
In March 2000 when Chen Shui-bian was elected president his supporters were elated and optimistic about Taiwan having truly attained democracy. Many scholars also saw the event as significant, marking the consolidation of Taiwan's democratization effort. Soon, however, many became disappointed. Cynicism grew. Opinion polls showed declining support for the President, the legislature, political parties and politics in general. Even democracy was questioned. The causes for this were: (1) Taiwan's mixed political system, which was not ready for the opposition to become the ruling party; (2) Taiwan's style of democracy was copied from America's, in some way wrongly. This made it a system that did not fit an Asian country and allowed for ethnic politics and some other undesirable aspects of democracy to evolve; (3) the Chen Administration ignored the importance of economic development. When the economy deteriorated he sought other ways to remain in power; this further led to a deterioration of politics and hurt the image of the government.
Taiwan's 1991 and 1992 Non-Supplemental Elections: Reaching a Higher State of Democracy
Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented interest on the part of both scholars and the media in Taiwan's politics in general and its political development more specifically. John Copper's new book, Taiwan's 1991 and 1992 Non-Supplemental Elections: Reaching a Higher State of Democracy, examines Taiwan's departure from holding only supplemental elections-a practice that allowed many delegates to remain in office for years and thus called into question the competitive nature of Taiwan's electoral system-marks a new phase in Taiwan's democratization. Copper points out, though, that these elections need to be related to other factors of political development. He discusses how economic and cultural factors such as Taiwan's rapid economic growth in the '60s and '70s and the resulting urbanization of the country contributed to a political atmosphere that would allow the departure from supplemental elections.