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This paper employs a panel of 23 local governments in Taiwan over 1998–2010 to re-estimate the redistribution effects of intergovernmental fiscal transfers by considering a self-financing resources of local government as the transition variable in panel smooth transition regression models. Empirical results show that the income (or tax revenues) redistribution effects of fiscal transfer policies are nonlinear and vary with time and across local governments. The grants from central government can improve income and tax revenues distribution of local governments; however, the centrally allotted tax revenues have inverse effects and the total fiscal transfers have ambiguous effects. The total fiscal transfer is a proper policy instrument for improving income redistribution, and the grants for improving tax revenues redistribution. However, high self-financing resources ratios are harmful for these redistribution effects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a speech by Chinese politician Jiang Zemin at the Taiwan work meeting of the Central Committee of China. He mentions the maintenance of close contacts of the Xinjiang region to the Central Plains of China, and highlights the historical and current situation regarding the issue of East Turkistan and the ethnic separatist forces of Xinjiang Xian.

The changes to the developmental state resulting from Taiwan's political liberalization and democratization have created a complex political-economic decision-making landscape that has affected the process of financial reforms. In this article, the author examines the impact that the changes in the nature of the Taiwanese state, institutions, and the increase in the number of important political actors have on financial liberalization and reforms that have been undertaken thus far, providing a theoretical framework to explain how institutional changes, the interactions of political actors, and changes in incentives in the political system can help one understand the politics of financial reform. Using this theoretical framework, the author examines the application of the theory to the Taiwan case in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the transformation of the textile and garment industry in Taiwan from the period after 1945, when the industry was small and inconsequential, to the contemporary period, where the industry is a world leader at the frontier of fibre and new material development. The drivers of these developments include the role of industrial policy, initial assistance from the USA, generous export-orientated, investment-friendly incentives, and regulatory pressures imposed in global markets. Taiwan successfully restructured and reached the innovation-driven phase of the industry by the late 1980s, relocating labour-intensive activities to China and Southeast Asia, with Taiwan specialising in technology-intensive activities. Although the industry's employment and exports have fallen since the 1980s, the successful evolution of firms intohigh value-added and upstream activities continues to maintain the industry's dynamism in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regardless of the continued stalemate in the political arena, trade and economic interactions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have increased steadily. Both aggregate data and the results of survey research have testified to the existence of functional integration of the two societies across the Taiwan Strait. In addition to functional integration, structural readjustments have also been made by political authorities both in Taipei and Beijing so as to facilitate continuity of trade and economic relations. These types of mutual accommodations include: establishing proper 'unofficial' agencies on both sides to serve as instruments of practical contacts and negotiation; the more flexible definition of 'One China' by Beijing; and the opening of 'small links' between Quemoy and Amoy by Taipei. Beijing's refusal to grant Taipei any official diplomatic status and Taipei's reluctance to accept the 'One China' principle remain major obstacles to cross-Taiwan Strait relations. The United States will continue playing a key role in future cross-Strait relations. Beijing seems to be content, at least temporarily, to maintain cordial relations with the United States in exchange for the latter's adherence to the 'One China' principle and rejection of the option of Taiwan independence. Whether Taipei will use enhanced US commitment to Taiwan's security to strike a better deal with Beijing for gradual cross-Strait integration or to utilize increased American protection to move onto the separatist road will be affected by domestic politics in Taiwan, future US policy toward to the island, and Beijing's response to Taipei's demand for security and international recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-Taiwan Straits economic interaction is a political as well as an economic issue. General trends of economic interdependence and globalization that are weakening the role of the nation state should promote a focus of shared 'civilian governance' between Taiwan and mainland China. WTO entry will provide opportunities as well as challenges for cross-Strait economic relations. In anticipation of this dynamic, the new government in Taiwan is attempting to design a new national security web to guarantee Taiwan's 'economic security' in coping with Taiwan's increasing economic dependence on mainland China. As one key agent of globalization, economic cooperation in the urban areas on both sides of the Taiwan Strait may potentially improve relations between Taiwan and mainland China. As decentralization and privatization on mainland China proceed, major cities have developed closer interaction and systems of accountability with the civil society. From a prudent perspective, developing functional cooperation between Taiwan and mainland China at the urban level could be a first substantial step to confidence building between these two economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting the implementation effectiveness of Taiwan's policy to privatize its government-owned banks. The study finds that ideological and sociocultural factors are basically supportive and stable in the privatization process. Nevertheless, institutional, leadership, administrative, and political variables have become major problems that hamper the implementation of Taiwan's policy to privatize its government-owned banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the economic structures behind the shift from urban to rural biasness in South Korea and Taiwan. Comparison between the class-theoretic and the rational choice approaches in explaining sectoral bias; Analysis of economists Robert Bates' and Michael Lipton's research works; Relationship between agriculture and polity at different income levels in South Korea and Taiwan.

This paper examines the development of the man-made-fibre industry in Taiwan from its inception in the mid-1950s to the present day. It traces the growth of the industry in response to the expansion of domestic textile manufacturing capacity and analyses its changing structural and competitive characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]