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I have been in Thailand for years and I always considered Taiwan to have lower cost options than Japan. There was a headhunter episode in Taiwan, and the guy was just about a beach bum. As mentioned ed much more to buy than rent, though. I heard 50 times annual rent to buy in Taiwan..while Thailand is more like 16.
Last edited by Hal Roach; 09-09-2018 at 08:42 AM..
A big quality of life issue in Taiwan is air pollution. Taiwan is phasing out nuclear power and ramping up coal-fired power generation. The coal power plant in Taichung, for example, has drastically increased air pollution levels in central and southern Taiwan to the point where it has made 2/3 of Taiwan nearly unlivable. To avoid chronic power shortages, a major expansion of the coal-fired power plant in Shenao on the north coast will render the remaining northern 1/3 of the island unlivable in a few years.
Another issue is the cost of housing, the major component of the cost of living for most people. Taiwan is a small, densely populated island where the population is still growing so competition for decent housing near job centers remains strong. Japan, on the other hand, is losing population so rapidly that the demand for housing is so weak in many cities and towns that you can pick up land and houses cheaply.
That is a myth. The air pollution used to be a lot worse. It’s still bad in winter but it’s nowhere near as bad as a few years ago.
I personally had doubts when I started looking at it in Google Street View in preparation of my trip in December, but the overall aesthetic is starting to grow on me.
I personally had doubts when I started looking at it in Google Street View in preparation of my trip in December, but the overall aesthetic is starting to grow on me.
What can be done about this? The housing, the streets, it looks more south east asian, like Thailand.
This is what I think is the problem
1. There was a lack of planning when they built the buildings. This led to a lot of small buildings with small streets.
2. There is a lack of laws requiring building owners to maintain their buildings.
3. Taiwanese law requres 100% of all owners to agree to redevelop a building, which means a few individuals can prevent a sale.
4. There is a lack of green spaces in the city due to #1.
What needs to be done is to make it easier for private sector redevelop and increase the expenditure on public renovation. The government should buy up and tear down bad looking neighboorhoods, then create new roads that can fit sidewalks with trees. They should also add lots of tiny parks to create lounges in the concrete jungle.
To gain some income from this, they should then sell plots of land to real estators who build highrises.
That is why there are threads praising Singapore and people thinking of moving there. It is really richer than Taiwan.
If people are looking for less political chaos, angry youths and crimes, they choose Singapore. Taiwan also had angry youths intruded the legislature and protests against leaders years ago.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PCALMike
Singapore looks developed IMO. Taiwan doesnt look as rich as it really is.
3. Taiwanese law requres 100% of all owners to agree to redevelop a building, which means a few individuals can prevent a sale.
What needs to be done is to make it easier for private sector redevelop and increase the expenditure on public renovation. The government should buy up and tear down bad looking neighboorhoods, then create new roads that can fit sidewalks with trees. They should also add lots of tiny parks to create lounges in the concrete jungle.
That is never going to happen. Whichever party that would dare to do that would lose all the votes.
That is why there are threads praising Singapore and people thinking of moving there. It is really richer than Taiwan.
If people are looking for less political chaos, angry youths and crimes, they choose Singapore. Taiwan also had angry youths intruded the legislature and protests against leaders years ago.
Well, tightly controlled Singapore also lacks a "je na sais quoi", and just kind of feels a bit antiseptic.
Sure, Taiwan is a bit messy and chaotic, but it has that soul and vitality that I just find Singapore lacks. I like that people are politically active and engaged. Whereas being a opposition politician in Singapore means you're a lonely voice and are subject to a lot of restrictions and sanction if you speak out.
That is never going to happen. Whichever party that would dare to do that would lose all the votes.
Well, that explains why the government has not fixed the problem.
European parties sometimes cooperate when they want to implement decisions that are unpopular. But I highly doubt that will happen in Taiwan.
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