The company’s popular apartment-sharing business remains illegal in this market, but it hopes to find some resolution. A little over two years ago, Airbnb was riding high in Taiwan. Tourism was still rising, including from China. The hotel industry, benefiting from growing business, had yet to press the government to crack down on Airbnb’s lucrative…
Tourists and Taiwan residents alike have cheered Taipei City’s YouBike bike-sharing program. The bikes provide a convenient, inexpensive and eco-friendly way to get around Greater Taipei. The program has been expanded to Hsinchu, Taichung, and Changhua, and the Taiwan government hopes to eventually export it as a turnkey solution to other countries. Encouraged by YouBike’s…
Taiwan’s FlyingV is one of the most successful crowdfunding platforms in the Asian region. In 2015 roughly US$34 billion was raised globally through crowdfunding, a type of alternative finance that relies on small amounts of capital from a large number of individuals to support new business ventures. Thanks to the internet, fundraisers can easily connect…
The Taiwan economy is back in positive territory, but the pace of growth is likely to remain slow until global conditions improve substantially. In the meantime, Taiwan may benefit as a key part of the supply chain for Apple’s iPhone 7, but its tourism sector will need to make up for a sharp drop in…
Faced with lackluster growth, stagnant salaries, and complaints from young people that it’s hard to find a job, Taiwan is seeking to follow the example of rival Asian tiger Korea by undergoing industrial upgrading. To this end, President Tsai Ing-wen and her administration have announced plans to develop five major innovative industries: smart machinery, green…
Senior government officials have cited Taiwan’s recent labor unrest as their biggest short-term economic problem, saying that continuing controversy could undermine investor confidence. Recent ruckuses in the Legislative Yuan suggest that an immediate solution is not in sight. In late October, Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers sided with labor groups, waving placards and occupying the Speaker’s podium…
Massive investment in solar and wind power will be needed if Taiwan is to phase out nuclear energy at the same time as meeting its carbon abatement commitments. This is part one of a three-part story on Taiwan’s energy situation: Part 2 Part 3 The “Energiewende” – energy transformation – of Germany’s power supply has…
Can Taiwan maintain reliable – and affordable – electricity prices even as it slashes greenhouse gas emissions? This is part three of a three-part story on Taiwan’s energy situation: Part 1 Part 2 Among the extensive data available on the website of the Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) – the state-owned monopoly responsible for power generation,…
With both nuclear power plants in northern Taiwan soon to shut down, a significant gap in power supply is looming. This is part Two of a three-part story on Taiwan’s energy situation: Part 1 Part 3 Taiwan will get an early introduction to the dream of a “Nuclear-free Homeland” this summer when two-thirds of its…
People in Taiwan are exercising more and engaging in more sports. Extreme sports such as marathons, triathlons, and cycling races, as well as intense workout regimens such as CrossFit are becoming increasingly popular. But with all of this exercise comes the risk of injury, particularly in middle-aged office workers who otherwise lead sedentary lives. Further,…
