The materials contained in this volume represent a continuation of the accounts of two precursors on the subject: that of Dr. Kwoh-ting Li (1988) and, respectively, the CEPD (1997). In terms of motivation, purpose, and structure of format, the three are broadly similar, differentiated somewhat by thematic coverage, the objective policy contents chosen, and the time period the series ends in each edition. To facilitate readership and comprehension of the listed policies an interpretative account is given in this volume. Together they form a trilogy and a tool box for tracking down the decision-making process in Taiwan’s economic development. In post-War development era of world, ROC-Taiwan stand out as an undisputed success. Taiwan’s success and transformation appear little short of miraculous, considering the duration and magnitude of challenges confronting policy-makers ever since initial industrialization campaign was launched up to the present. In one of his widely-cited books, Economic Transformation of Taiwan (ROC), 1988, Dr. Li reasoned that this outcome is arrived at through “careful planning and intelligible application of policies”. A policy matrix tracing the evolution of ROC government policies since 1950 was constructed as supplement to another book of the same author. But the series ends in 1991. CEPD updated the series in 1997 in an enlarged and separate brochure modifying slightly the classification of policies. Nevertheless it is already a decade behind schedule as seen today. This ushered in a period of documentation vacuum, during which Taiwanese economy itself has been undergoing radical changes and that direct policy involvement in economic activities diminishing in tandem with the rise of market forces. Once again it is high time to fill in the vacuum as CEPD did before on Li’s outdated account. As an expanded edition, the present work is carried out in ways that retains the basic structural format of policy matrix of its predecessors.
Amendments are seen in the following :
(1) reclassify and augment the major policies that appropriately reflect the shifting trends of Taiwan’s development path overtime; (2) concise annotations corresponding to all tabulated policies are given for immediate references; and (3) in addition to the printed version, a duplicated CD-ROM of the report with user’s manual is also available.
It goes without saying that all these are intended to update and to maximize exposure of the reservoir of major policies implemented throughout Taiwan’s modernization history. This project is organized and executed by CIER research team under the aegis of CEPD. To more satisfactorily meet the objective of this study, an ad hoc task force involving virtually a dozen scholars of high caliber is formed; their expertise knowledge is reflected in both the selection of key policies in each of the 14 series and provision of corresponding annotated texts. Not to be neglected either is the contributions made by relevant government officials in reviewing the work in progress and numerous suggestions. The text of the draft report has been duly rectified but it is feared that there may still be errors and omissions.