TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Economist released an updated interpretation of the global Big Mac index in October, revealing that U.S. workers can afford to purchase 14,000 McDonald's Big Macs annually, topping the global ranking. This index compares the purchasing power of labor in real terms across countries.
The index utilized statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, 經濟合作暨發展組織), placing Switzerland and Denmark in second and third, respectively. Denmark leads in hourly earnings, with workers able to buy 8.1 Big Macs per hour.
In Taiwan, fast-food prices are a burden, according to local office worker Tommy, who remarked that meals cost over NT$200, impacting students and lower-paid laborers. A Big Mac in Taiwan costs NT$78, while in the U.S., it is US$5.69, approximately NT$185, indicating higher U.S. prices.
Tsai Ming-fang (蔡明芳), a professor at Tamkang University (淡江大學), stated that the Big Mac index highlights real income differences, with higher total salaries in the U.S. Meanwhile, Hsin Ping-lung (辛炳隆), an associate professor at National Taiwan University's Graduate Institute of National Development, noted that Big Macs are relatively cheaper in Europe and the U.S., reflecting local price levels.
In East Asia, Big Macs in Taiwan are cheaper than in other parts of the region. An hourly wage of NT$183 buys 2.34 Big Macs, compared to Japan's 2.09 and South Korea's 1.79. Experts caution that while the Big Mac index provides insight into wage conditions, it doesn't fully capture the public's sentiments about wage pressure and should be interpreted carefully.