Ask HN: Why is Taiwan such a technology powerhouse?

7 points by mickjagger 4 years ago | 6 comments

Personal perspective of a Taiwanese:

1. Taiwan govt did something right in the 70's, e.g., establishing science parks[^1] as part of Ten Major Construction Projects[^2].

2. Coverage of higher education. 51% of population of age 25~64 has postsecondary degree or higher. Only surpassed by Canada, Japan and Luxembourg in OECD countries[^3]. To achieve high coverage of higher education, I believe it is in major part influenced by the Taiwanese culture of studying.

3. Again, govt started to minimize their rein and let private sector and market take over since 80's. Many business owners are always delighted to see less govt control/restriction. This coincide with the timeline of rapid democracy reform in Taiwan.

One can always read up on the Taiwan Miracle[^4] regarding the broader stroke on the economic progression.

[^1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsinchu_Science_Park

[^2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Major_Construction_Project...

[^3]: https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cac

[^4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Miracle

mytailorisrich 4 years ago | |

Many educated Chinese moved from the mainland to Taiwan after 1949, or returned from the West to Taiwan instead of the mainland, as well.

So the government had the brainpower to carry out their policy and Taiwan benefited hugely from the influx of people from the mainland.

A famous example is the founder of TSMC. Foxconn founder's family is also from the mainland, etc.

Taiwanese culture of studying, really is Chinese/confucian culture of studying.

davidjytang 4 years ago | | |

Don't want to diminish post-'49 mainlander's contribution to Taiwan, but under Japanese rule, there were highly educated Taiwan locals. More 200 thousand Taiwanese studied abroad for college before '45. Sadly many were wiped by then-ROC administration.

rsj_hn 4 years ago | |

Thanks! Would you have an (english) book recommendation on Taiwanese economic history?

davidjytang 4 years ago | | |

Aside from the Wikipedia, I'm beat!

jimmyvalmer 4 years ago |

Take millennia of Confucian scholarship, and let it put down new roots on an island removed from the utter disaster that became of China during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Add a healthy dash of Japanese colonial influence and you get a Xerox PARC-like town called Hsinchu.