TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A recent survey by Global Views Monthly (遠見雜誌) reveals a cautiously optimistic sentiment among Taiwanese citizens regarding the economic outlook for 2025. The "Global Views Monthly 2025 Public Opinion Survey" (遠見雜誌2025民心動向調查) shows that 39.3% of respondents expect economic improvement, marking a three-year high and a 2.9 percentage point increase from the previous year. Conversely, pessimism has waned, with only 34.5% anticipating economic decline, the lowest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Economic Outlook and Age Divide
The survey, conducted from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6, 2024, highlights a generational gap in economic perspectives. Optimism is most pronounced among the 20-29 age group, with 66% expressing a positive outlook. In contrast, only 26.7% of individuals over 70 share this optimism. The 50-59 demographic emerges as the most pessimistic, with 41.5% foreseeing an economic downturn. Also, 34.6% of respondents anticipate improved personal financial situations in 2025, while 27.8% predict financial setbacks.
Global Views Monthly's annual survey delves into various themes, including economic perspectives, cross-strait relations, and party identification. It aims to capture Taiwanese sentiment on the future and global dynamics, providing insight into the nation's hopes and concerns.
Preference for the U.S. in Personal Development
When considering destinations for investment, work, or study, the United States (美國) holds the top spot, chosen by 16.7% of respondents. Among the 20-29 age group, this preference is even more pronounced, with over 30.6% favoring the U.S. Southeast Asia (東南亞) follows closely at 16.6%, with Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Northeast Asia also ranking as preferred destinations.
In contrast, interest in mainland China (中國大陸) as a destination for personal development has significantly declined. Only 11.4% of respondents selected the other side of the Taiwan Strait, a sharp drop from a high of 34.4% in December 2018 and a decrease of one percentage point from the end of 2023. This trend reflects changing perceptions and priorities among Taiwanese citizens.
Survey Methodology and Broader Implications
The Global Views Monthly survey employs year-end polling to reflect on the past year and gauge public sentiment for the year ahead. It explores key themes such as cross-strait exchanges, U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, and perspectives on unification, independence, and political party identification. By capturing a snapshot of Taiwanese views, the survey offers valuable insights into the evolving political and economic landscape.
The findings underscore a complex interplay of optimism and caution among Taiwanese citizens as they navigate uncertain economic and geopolitical conditions. As Taiwan enters 2025, these insights provide a glimpse into the nation's aspirations and challenges, shaping its path forward on the global stage.
For More Reading:
This article is excerpted from the January issue of Global Views Monthly; for more articles, please visit: https://www.gvm.com.tw
Here is the link to the Chinese story on Global Views Monthly: 《遠見》2025民心動向調查：民眾黨認同度降至5.6%，人心流向何方？ | https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/118106
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