The public pension system in Taiwan: Equity issues within and between systems.

This article analyses the challenges facing the New Public Service Pension Fund System in Taiwan, China. After less than two decades of operation, this young system is facing financial imbalance and is embroiled in controversy regarding the generosity of its benefits provisions. The article first introduces Taiwan's different systems for old-age security, with a focus on that for general public-sector employees. It then addresses the financial challenges facing the general public-sector pension system, including the rising cost of its benefits for all taxpayers. Finally, a number of possible reform directions are suggested, including lowering benefit levels, making qualifying criteria more stringent, or establishing a new system. With regards to the latter, any proposed new system must seek to satisfy the goal of longer-term financial soundness while realizing optimal fairness among all stakeholders including taxpayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]