IslaFormosa

Forumosa Recognizes blog.IslaFormosa.com

2009-06-17T21:41:00.004+08:00

I just got an email today that really made my day. After all the effort, Forumosa has recognized my website. I'd just like to thank my followers wherever you may be. Drop me a line if you like what you read!

http://www.forumosa.org/favorites/ (I'm 3rd from the top)

I know I've been delinquent writing lately but I'll be back very soon when I feel the urge.

In the meantime, enjoy my archives of close to 400 entries. Use the SEARCH FUNCTION to find what you'd like or check out my LABELS.

Be sure to also check out Forumosa.com's innumerable posts about just about everything Taiwan.

How many Taiwanese does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

2009-04-28T22:16:00.006+08:00

Here's the story behind the punchline.

I bumped into a female Taiwanese colleague in the elevator at work the other day. It seemed early and she looked like she was leaving so I asked her where she was going. She said home.

"Oh, to do what?," I asked.

"To change a lightbulb," she said.

"Why not later after work?," I decided to ask.

"Because a plumber is coming over to change it for me," she said matter-of-factly.

"Ok, can't you change the bulb yourself? I mean it's easy," I questioned.

"(Oh you silly foreigner) I'm a Taiwanese girl," she replied.

Yes, you certainly are, I thought.

Turns out that she didn't know anything about switching off breakers or electricity I guess and was willing to pay to have someone do a simple thing like this. This can happen in Taiwan where the girls often really play the part.

So to repeat from the beginning:
How many Taiwanese does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Evidently, in a Taiwanese girl's case, it might mean at least two...

NIN makes a date with Taipei

2009-04-16T22:45:00.003+08:00

NIN is coming to Taipei.
This will be a big concert for alternate music lovers out there.

Date: August 12, 2009 (Wednesday)
Time: 20:00 (18:00 Admission)
Venue: South 101 (Nankang)
Fare Zoning: A / B / C (all standing)

On-line ticket sales start April 13
Contact's ticket sales http://www.ticket.com.tw/dm.asp?P1=0000009580

PRICING:
Before April 30 special: A zone 2600 / B zone 1800 / C zone 1200
Before May 30 special: A zone 2700 / B zone 1900 / C zone 1300
Regular A zone︰ 3000 / B zone 2200 / C zone 1600

See you there!

Don't call me Laowai, bitch!

2009-04-14T23:58:00.008+08:00

Are you a little tired at being called Laowai? Don't like to be lumped in that category? It seems to be a tad too negative for my liking. Kind of like lumping foreigners in a 'can't be like us Chinese category'.

But what else can we be called? WaiGuoRen (foreign person) is ok although still implies outsider (not like us). YangGuiZi (foreign ghost or devil) is a bit much.

[More about those terms here]

Or should we really be thinking about what to call ourselves? I think it's about time we had an endonym to call ourselves, the foreigners living in Taiwan. Enough of these antiquated and loaded names (exonyms) that locals have for us. Anyone have any ideas?

Foreign friend? Foreign guest? Foreign slave? Something else?

Alternatively we could just start calling each other LaoWai and make the word our own much like some Taiwanese have twisted the term TaiKe.

When I see you on the street and you hear me say, "What's up LaoWai?" you could reply "Laowai, long time no see". It might worth the trouble to say how locals react.

On a final note, a friend of mine once drunkenly blurted out, "Caucasian is just Asian with a 'Cauc' ". He was a 'Cauc' alright for saying that. But at least he took a shot at claiming a stake to the name.

Take your best shot whether it be serious or idiotic. What name should we, the foreigners of Taiwan, lay claim to?

Oasis: China's Loss is Taiwan's Gain

2009-03-29T08:32:00.003+08:00

Oasis will be in Taipei for a show on April 3. Saw this show when I was back home. Oasis as always were in good form although the brother's still not on speaking terms (no stage interaction between them). Also be forwarned that they are playing a lot of new songs from their mediocre new album. A few classics though. Should still be fun.

tickets

There's an interesting story about why they are coming to Taiwan and why all of a sudden. It seems that they were rejected by China because they had participated in pro-Tibetan acitivities in the past. Not surprising. Well, Taiwan makes up the slack in their tour. Don't think we're getting special treatment. We're just the second choice for lack of a better place to go.

Taipei Times

IHT

PS. From that ticket site it looks like there is another big concert coming August 13. 3 big bands:

18:00 All-American Rejects
19:00 Hoobastank
20:00 Linkin Park

Google Street View Confirmed for Taipei

2009-03-24T07:52:00.005+08:00

A while back I wrote about seeing a van with cameras on the top. I thought it was Google's.

http://blog.islaformosa.com/2008/10/google-street-view-coming-to-taipei.html

Turns out I was wrong BUT Google Street View is coming to Taipei anyhow!

This car was spotted roaming the streets and there's a video to go with it to boot.

I can't wait for Street View to come here. Taipei, as anyone knows who's been lost here, really needs it.

Wiki says "As of March 2009 the Google Street View camera car was seen roaming the streets of Taipei, Taiwan." wiki

Ice Saw

2009-03-01T15:03:00.001+08:00

This guy just got a block of ice delivered to his market stall. He plans to cut it with the saw.

From Blogger

Cat Hammock

2009-03-01T15:01:00.001+08:00

These two cats were just loving this cat hammock, jostling for the better sleeping position.

From Blogger

Another Doggie Poop Sign

2009-03-01T14:58:00.001+08:00

Taiwanese love those cartoon version doggie poops. Obsessed with them, in fact.

From Blogger

Taiwan Has Never Been the Same Since...

2009-03-01T14:19:00.002+08:00

Taiwan has come a long way since I first arrived in 1997:

From Blogger

Osama makes a Taipei appearance

2009-01-31T13:16:00.001+08:00

From Blogger

Along with his buddies Mao and Che...

From Blogger

CNY 2009

2009-01-31T13:12:00.002+08:00

Have trouble talking with that mask on? Want a mask that doesn't cover your mouth? This may be for you!

Selling firecrackers and fireworks in front of the park sign prohibiting fireworks in the park.

Random Around Town Cell Shots

2009-01-14T07:44:00.004+08:00

From Blogger

The Goddess of Democracy guards Taipei 101.

From Blogger

Metropolitan Life sells using Peanuts characters.

From Blogger

Cadina potato chips uses movie characters to advertise. I detect a lawsuit coming...

From Blogger

Sportsac creates people entirely made of balloons.

From Blogger

Google advertises "What can you use Google to do?" Get a tip!

From Blogger

A bus has an ad for MOD (Media on Demand) on the side featuring Californication starring David Duchovny. Funny thing is, as far as I know, that series doesn't air in Taiwan! Great show though!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

2008-12-26T19:05:00.003+08:00

No really! In Taiwan. I kid you not. And the smell is amazing.

From Blogger

In Taiwan they use tar pellets and mix them with the chestnuts and then roast them in a wok. The tar pellets insure that the heat gets all around the nuts and not just from the heat under the wok. I wonder if they know the Christmas song describing this age old treat...

From Blogger

I remember traveling with my wife in south France and eating these. They were a fraction of the price of the ones in Taiwan. In fact, they were lying all over the place in France for anyone to pick and bring home...

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Thanks for reading and being a part of my blog!

The Beitou Garbage Incinerator Smokestack Resto

2008-12-12T11:47:00.008+08:00

View Larger Map

As you are passing by on the MRT on the way to Danshui, you may notice a large tower near the river. This is the Beitou Incinerator.

And when you think incinerators, you think restaurants, right? Well, boy do I have a surprise for you. You can combine your love for burning trash with delicious food by visiting the Beitou Incinerator!

While walking along the bikepath from Guandu with a friend, we spotted the tower and wondered what it was. Upon closer inspection we noticed that the smokestack also had an observation deck. Googling it on Google Maps, I found out that the building was a trash incinerator.

The story would have stopped there had it not been for a hotpot meal with some corporate students. I told them about the walk and the tower. Then, one guy, to my absolute astonishment, said that there was a restaurant on the tower! (He also mentioned that it was operated by a famous star who I don't recall)

Googling the incinerator again I found it's website:
http://www.ptrip.gov.tw/

Sure enough, if you scroll down, you can see some links for the restaurant. Clicking around the site reveals that the tower also has a viewing deck. There are various pictures of the view there as well.

But here's the thing: do people really equate incinerator with restaurant? I keep picturing sitting enjoying a wonderful meal while thinking the smokestack inside is pumping out poison into the sky around us. Maybe it's just me.

One more thing. Take a look at the art on the roof. It's pretty elaborate when considering that onely the people in the tower and Google Maps can see it.

Taiwan Touch Your Heart or is that Thailand Touch Your Heart?

2008-12-10T21:42:00.006+08:00

The visuals are ok but the Islaformosa song is just plain bad. I have noticed that Taiwan is advertising on CNN these days using this jingle as are a lot of other Asian countries with their own songs.

There are definitely really terrible ads. Seoul's advertising (Seoul, Soul of Asia) is pretty bad as well and leaves me feeling loathe to visit.

So far I've only been impressed with Malaysia's and India's songs and Cambodia has done a pretty good job with their commercial as well.

As a final message, I say Naruwan to you if you are coming to Taiwan! And remember it's not Taiwan, not Thailand, bitch!

(If you are wondering what the heck 'naruwan' is then you weren't the only one who misunderstood the last ad campaign thought up by those spin doctors at Taiwan tourism. Google 'naruwan' to see how misguided that campaign slogan was...)

Stores, stores and more stores...

2008-12-10T21:17:00.001+08:00

Just in time for Xmas, let IslaFormosa help you pick that special gift for everyone on your list...

For the Samurai swordsman on your list...

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

For the boar's head collector...

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

For the action figure collector...

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

Or the Nazi you may know...

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

Or the all-around pleaser: an 'artistic' dining room or living room wall hanging!
(Check the details of the pictures for the bestiality of it all...)

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

So many choices... So little time...

Police and Army Uniforms Galore!

2008-12-10T21:10:00.000+08:00

From 2008_12_07 December Day in Taipei

I thought there only were these kinds of stores in China. This is a kind of stores where you can buy official (looking) uniforms of police officers and soldiers. It's on ChungHua Road near XiMenDing.

As some people living in China may know, army and police surplus stores are everywhere. In fact, many people who are not police or soldiers wear the uniforms for regular work clothes as they are cheap and fairly durable.

This was a first for me to see in Taiwan. I wonder who the prime customers are: army vets, para-military types or Halloween costume hunters.

From Blogger

Taiwan 2008 Zeitgeist

2008-12-10T19:40:00.005+08:00

[translated with Google Translate; original text at bottom]

Welcome to the 2008 Taiwan Top Google keyword list!
Raorao have gone through, the event continued a year, users in the Google search keywords, what difference will it make? Continued to lead the wave of online video, "YouTube" crowned as the most popular keyword list; "104" in keeping up, the reaction of an economic downturn, the unemployment rate or frequency, we thirst job; "Gmail" free up more than 7G The space has attracted many domestic users and the use of inquiry; Interestingly, "Taiwan High Speed Rail" and "Taiwan Railway Administration" search beyond the amount of celebrity or popular Web site, occupies the fourth, fifth, showed that the downturn in online travel The public transport network information or the opportunity to increase the booking. In the rapid popularity of the keyword ranking, as a result of events set off rapid popularity keywords, such as drug formula of the "three hydrogen-amine," "Chu Li-Ning" and "Edison", "Ma Ying-jeou" and other issues before itself 5. In addition, the network's famous "Energizer small love", adding fuel to the flames as a result of the network in the world, the highest in the rapid popularity of the keyword in the second. Quick look at 2008, "the most popular keywords" and "rapid popularity of the keywords" list, the current understanding of the dynamics of this year it!

Top ranking keyword search (Fastest Rising)

1. Li Ning Chu
2. Energizer small love
3. Edison
4. Melamine
5. Ma Ying-jeou
6. Diego velázquez
7.2008 Beijing Olympic Games
8. Chrome
9. Large Hadron collision device
10. Pan when Interior Design

Rapid popularity keyword search ranking (Most Popular)

1. Youtube
2.104
3. Gmail
4. Taiwan High Speed Rail
5. TRA
6. Chunghwa Telecom
7. Mobile 01
8. Reunification of the invoice
9. Google map
10. Central Weather Bureau

Top 10 Taiwan News

1. Promontory on the 7th (Cape no.7)
2. Edison events
3. To help Stars
4. Job
5. Taiwan High Speed Rail
6. Cycling
7. Asus
8.591
9. China Trust
10. Predestined I love you

3C annual brand search

1. Asus
2. Apple
3. Hp
4. Sony
5. Acer
6. Nokia
7. Cannon
8. Dell
9. Htc
10. Epson

Person of the Year search ranking

1. Edison
2. Tanaka draw thousands
3. Ma Ying-jeou
4. ANGLE
5. Children & Teng
6. Yang Wei
7. Cecilia Cheung
8. Jay Chou
9. Xu Jiaying
10. Chu Lai Ning

Taiwan's annual tourism attractions search

1. Penghu Lodge
2. Hualien Lodge
3. South of the border
4. Alishan
5. Bora
6. Sun Moon Lake
7. Ilan Lodge
8. Wuling Farm
9. Kaohsiung
10. Hushan sword

歡迎來到2008年Google台灣熱門關鍵字排行榜！

歷經紛紛擾擾、大事不斷的一年，網友們在 Google搜尋的關鍵字又有何不同呢？線上影音持續引領風潮，「YouTube」榮登最熱門關鍵字榜首；「104」緊跟在後，反應經濟不景氣、失業率頻升，大家求職若渴；「Gmail」免費又高達7G以上的空間，吸引許多國內網友查詢並使用；有趣的是，「台灣高鐵」與「台鐵」的搜尋量超越名人或熱門網站，佔居第四、第五名，顯示網友在不景氣中搭乘大眾交通運輸資訊或網路訂票的機會增多。在快速竄紅的關鍵字排行方面，因新聞事件引爆的快速竄紅關鍵字，如毒奶粉「三聚氫胺」、「黎礎寧」、「陳冠希」、「馬英九」等議題，佔居前五名。另外，在網路上聲名大噪的「勁量小愛」，因網路世界的推波助瀾，高居快速竄紅的關鍵字第二。快看看2008年「最熱門關鍵字」、「快速竄紅的關鍵字」排行榜，了解今年時事動態吧！

快速竄紅關鍵字搜尋排行 (Most Popular)

youtube
104
gmail
台灣高鐵
台鐵
中華電信
mobile 01
統一發票
google map
中央氣象局

台灣十大新聞

海角七號
陳冠希事件
星光幫
求職
台灣高鐵
自行車
asus
591
中國信託
命中注定我愛你

年度3C品牌搜尋

asus
apple
hp
sony
acer
nokia
cannon
dell
htc
epson

年度人物搜尋排行

陳冠希
田中千繪
馬英九
彎彎
蕭敬騰
楊宗緯
張柏芝
周杰倫
徐佳瑩
黎礎寧

年度台灣觀光景點搜尋

澎湖民宿
花蓮民宿
國境之南
阿里山
寶來
日月潭
宜蘭民宿
武陵農場
高雄
劍湖山

http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2008/#top

Attack of the African Snails!

2008-12-05T19:14:00.006+08:00

From Blogger

It was a slow week so it called for a sluggish story. East African Land Snails in Taiwan.

I have been surprised a few times in the concrete jungle of Taipei to find these rather large suckers crawling all over hedges at night (during the day they burry themselves in the earth). They are really big when compared to the tiny land snails we have back home in Canada so it makes them doubly striking to find in the middle of the city. I have accidentally stepped on a few of them crossing the sidewalks of Taipei and the feeling of their cracking shells is not unlike stepping on Xmas bulbs.

[Bushman has a good account of coming across one of these giant suckers]

At the time I just assumed that someone's meal had escaped and had managed to find another of its own to reproduce. I was wrong on both counts.

First, what, you say, are African snails doing here in Taiwan? Well they were probably accidentally introduced through trade. The problem is:

"They are a highly invasive species, and colonies can be formed from a single [...] individual. The species has established itself in Temperate Climates also, and in many places, release into the wild is illegal."

Furthermore:
"The Giant East African Snail is a simultaneous hermaphrodite."

It is this factor that makes it a pest. All it takes is one stray snail and the right environment for these snails to flourish into colonies.

Even so, Taiwanese have probably responded to the invasion by serving them on the dinner plate. Other infested countries have, though, tried control methods and haven't been so succesful:

"Suggested preventative measures must include strict quarantine measures to prevent introduction and further spread. Many methods have been tried to eradicate the Giant East African Snail. Generally, none of them have been effective except where implemented at the first sign of infestation. Methods include hand collecting, use of molluscicides, flame-throwers [!!!], and the failed attempts at biological control discussed below. In some regions, an effort has been made to promote use of the Giant East African Snail as a food resource, collecting the snails for food being seen as a method of controlling them. However, promoting a pest in this way is a controversial measure, as it may encourage the further deliberate spread of the snails."

wiki

So, although not dangerous, the snails are certainly pesky foreign guests whose numbers may or may not be welcome in Taiwan.

Build it and they will ride

2008-12-03T21:20:00.004+08:00

From 2008_12_03 Taipei Bike Paths

Here's the Taipei Cycling Service Center at JingFu by night. It's where the YongFu Bridge meets the river in GongGuan.

A lot of money has been put into the system in general. Despite the economic downturn, work is still on at the Taipei Drinking Water Museum. A bike path has just been put along the edge of the museum.

While I was in the area there were countless bikers riding in the dark traveling the paths.

From 2008_12_03 Taipei Bike Paths

I hate it when that happens

2008-12-03T21:17:00.000+08:00

From Blogger

Blood on the streets

2008-11-27T10:32:00.003+08:00

From Blogger

Imagine seeing this on your city street back home. This was one of the things I noticed about Taiwan when I first arrived. It's not a pretty picture is it?

At first, I thought street corners just had an inordinate amount of accidents. Bloody accidents.

I know better now as do most people after living in Taiwan for some time. 'Tis the mark of the cursed betelnut spittle.

Ignorance (of the Law) is Bliss

2008-11-23T09:56:00.019+08:00

I went out for hotpot the other night with some friends and was planning to have a few beers. The trouble is, you see, I wanted to have a few beers with the meal and then ride the scooter home. I know, I know, drinking and driving don't mix, blah, blah, blah. But I could drink under the legal limit and still drive, right? That is, of course, still legal.

However, what exactly is the legal limit in Taiwan? Most Taiwanese I asked just spouted off what the commercials against drunk driving say, "Jiou hou bu kai che," "After alcohol, don't drive." They basically were saying to me that there is a zero tolerance towards any driving after drinking (some countries do have zero tolerance laws). One local guy at work even went as far as saying if they stopped me and detected alcohol on the breath, one small wiff and you'd be busted.

[BTW, the drunk driving checks in Taipei amount to police road blocks, usually at night, in very typical spots around bridges or very heavily traveled roads. They are very predictable and often the police cars leave their lights on, warning vehicles in advance of the road blocks. The scientific drunk test amounts to an officer stopping a vehicle and asking for the driver to blow in his face so he can take a wiff. That's it! Hope he likes the smell of the stinky tofu I just ate! Some officers have also started to use flashlights to check pupil dilation. So much for robust checking....]

This brings me to a side point: Taiwanese are mostly pretty ignorant of their laws. In fact, Taiwanese just have impressions of their laws or know hear-say about the laws but do not know the fine letter of their laws. If you want to test this, ask someone about a law that you know a lot about back home and see if there is a Taiwanese equivalent. You'll understand what I mean.

So, Taiwanese, for the most part, live in ignorance of their laws. They go about their lives with a feeling for what is right or wrong for society but largely are unaware at the legal structures in place to settle legal matters. When I think about how people back home take no time to spout off their God-given rights and threaten to sue at the drop of a hat, you can immediately notice a difference in Taiwan which is much less of a litigation society. This is a kind of bliss.

Perhaps Taiwan is headed in the litigation society direction, though, with all the legal wrangling in the courts these days. It is important to note that previous presidents were technocrats with degrees in things like Agriculture Economics (Lee Deng-Hui). But now, we have had a lawyer by profession (President Chen who has landed himself in some legal troubles recently) and someone who studied Law (current President Ma). As in the West, lawyers and law-types seem to be rising here in Taiwan politics.

I digress. Back to the drunk driving law. Here is something more concrete and fairly up to date from the Taipei Times:

"Under the former regulations, the legal limit for a driver's blood-alcohol level was 0.25mg per liter. If a driver's blood-alcohol level exceeded 0.25mg per liter, he or she faced a fine of between NT$15,000 (US$460) and NT$60,000 -- depending on the type of vehicle driven and the blood alcohol content measured.

If a driver's blood alcohol content exceeded 0.55mg per liter, he or she would be charged with the inability to drive safely, which carried either a maximum one-year jail sentence or a maximum fine of NT$30,000.

The new regulations punish serious drunk drivers with both imprisonment and a fine, stipulating that if a driver's blood alcohol level exceeds 0.55mg per liter, he or she could face up to one-year in prison as well as a fine of up to NT$150,000.

As a result, should an offender receive a six-month sentence (the maximum length of sentence that can be commuted to a fine), and commutes the term to a fine, the offender would face paying a fine of up to NT$690,000."

Taipei Times

There are, in fact, 2 different standards for testing: BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) and mg/liter.

The definitive source is the TBAF or Taiwan Beverage Alcohol Forum a group sponsored by the major alcohol companies in Taiwan:

The current penalty listing below:

Alcohol Strength	Automobile	Payment
Alcohol breathalyzer test over 0.25mg/litre to 0.4mg/litre or BAC at 0.05% to 0.08%	Motorbike	15000
	Sedan	19500
	Long & heavy vehicle	22500
	The driver convicted with DUI twice in one year and one dose not have a driver license.	60000
Alcohol breathalyzer test over 0.4mg/litre to 0.55mg/litre or BAC at 0.08% to 0.11%	Motorbike	30000
	Sedan	34500
	Long & heavy vehicle	37500
	The driver convicted with DUI twice in one year and one dose not have a driver license.	60000
Alcohol breathalyzer test over 0.55mg/litre and above or BAC 0.11% and above
	Motorbike Sedan	45000 49500
	Long & heavy vehicle	52500
	The driver convicted with DUI twice in one year and one dose not have a driver license. The drunk driver would be prosecuted if caused any car accident	60000
Information source: Taipei City Police Department Traffic Division.

There you have it but if you blinked or fell asleep you may have missed an important distinction about Taiwan's drunk driving law. Countries like the US and some parts of Canada have BAC legal tolerance up to 0.08 but Taiwan's is 0.05 which is quite a bit lower.

According to the Wikipedia, that means for a 82kg man, anything more that 2 cans of beer would put you over 0.05 (subtract approximately .01% for every 40 minutes after drinking), theoretically speaking. [I am not responsible for any faulty math or reading of the charts]

So, scooter and car drivers beware! Only 1 can of beer for me before I hit the road... just to be sure. Ignorance of Taiwan's drunk driving law is not bliss. It could be quite costly.

TBAF faq page

TBAF drunk driving statistics Seems like mid-Taiwan has, by far, the most incidents. That is, if all police forces are equally diligent in enforcing and reporting.

Stimulate This!

2008-11-20T11:08:00.017+08:00

Well not exactly this kind of stimulation package but it enticed you to read this entry, did it not?

As you may well be aware, early next year every Taiwan citizen will be receiving a $3600 voucher from the government to stimulate spending. This is really in line with what a lot of nations are doing in order to keep their economies afloat through this financial crisis.

And I guess I am happy that something is being done instead of only hand wringing and hesitation. The medicine is bad any way you approach the issue but in many ways this crisis is aggravated by psychological factors. Even if this package is merely a placebo for the ills (I concede that it may just be), the psychological good it does will inevitably be positive. Believe me, people in Taiwan need more placebos like this in their dark economic hour to stay thinking positive even though it might be illusory.

Once again, it's psychology. Even if the package is just a drip in the bucket, it gives the perception that something is being done and this is important to people. I think the general consensus is that eventually the situation will improve but that it will take time. That's why it's a positive thing to relieve a little of the people's worries so that things (hopefully) don't sink so deep. Of course, the government has to nurture things in these dark times.

It's interesting to know that, even though many people are making the case that the package will do little or nothing, the voucher system instead of a tax break or cash back is more of a sound decision than it may seem. An economist makes this point...

"The standard stimulus package doesn't change incentives. It's a check from the government. The hope is that the receiver will spend it. But when you just send out checks from the government, whoever gets stimulated is likely to be offset by someone who gets unstimulated.

[....]

And even the people who get the money often save more of it than they spend.

That's why stimulus schemes based on giving people money have a poor track record of energizing the economy. Usually, the only thing that gets stimulated is a politician's approval rating."

NPR

What's interesting to note, though, is that Taiwan's government isn't just giving out cash or giving a tax break (which people can convert into cash and just save away without helping to stimulate the economy). People have to use the vouchers to buy products at businesses that issue receipts for purchases (which the tax department obviously likes since people pay their taxes (incidentally, this is the reason why the have the lottery on those receipts: it tries to keep businesses more honest about their books)).

Also, as implied in the report, some people have argued that the vouchers are just to buy voters since only citizens can receive them (that rules out us foreign paying taxpayers since we definitely cannot vote). However if that is the case, then why would a country like China also launch a stimulus package? It's not like they need to cater to their voters. However, they do need to keep its economy rolling to keep its citizens happy and that's purely psychological.

So there you have it. By me, the package seems reasonable as real stimulus or as a placebo or both. In the end, my Taiwanese wife for one will be spending her voucher with pleasure as will, I am sure, most of the people who receive one. Happy and positive spending!

IslaFormosa

Forumosa Recognizes blog.IslaFormosa.com

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