TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Chen Chien-jen addressed Taiwan's wealth gap on Tuesday (April 30), stating that while the situation in Taiwan is better than in many other countries, the government will continue to implement measures to ensure all citizens share in the benefits of economic growth.
According to the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), the wealth disparity in Taiwan is significant. In 2022, the top 20% of households had an average wealth of NT$51.33 million, while the bottom 20% had an average wealth of just NT$770,000, a gap of more than 66 times.
Chen noted that highly developed free-market countries, like Taiwan, often face issues of wealth distribution. However, data from the DGBAS shows that Taiwan's wealth gap is smaller than that of countries like Japan, Germany, and France.
The premier said the government would use various methods to ensure all the benefits of economic growth are shared. In recent years, efforts have been made to increase wages, reduce taxes, and promote various social welfare programs. These include state-supported child-rearing for children aged 0 to 6 and long-term care plans to narrow the wealth gap and provide better care for those in need.
Despite the wealth gap, Chen emphasized that the government will actively promote economic development and social welfare through various measures, ensuring all citizens can live comfortably and happily.