Taiwan Policy Research Articles

Diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor under the reimbursement policy in Taiwan

The purpose of this retrospective interventional case series is to compare the functional and anatomical outcomes in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) treated intravitreally with aflibercept or ranibizumab under the Taiwan National Insurance Bureau reimbursement policy. 84 eyes were collected and all eyes were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), color fundus photographs (CFPs), and fluorescein angiography (FA). At 24 months after therapy initiation, the logMAR BCVA improved from 0.58 ± 0.33 to 0.47 ± 0.38 (p < 0.01), the CRT decreased from 423.92 ± 135.84 to 316.36 ± 90.02 (p < 0.01), and the number of microaneurysms decreased from 142.14 ± 57.23 to 75.32 ± 43.86 (p < 0.01). The mean injection count was 11.74 ± 5.44. There was no intergroup difference in logMAR BCVA (p = 0.96), CRT (p = 0.69), or injection count (p = 0.81). However, the mean number of microaneurysms was marginally reduced (p = 0.06) in eyes treated with aflibercept at the end of the follow-up, and the incidence rates of supplementary panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) (p = 0.04) and subthreshold micropulse laser (SMPL) therapy sessions (p = 0.01) were also reduced. Multivariate analysis revealed that only initial logMAR BCVA influenced the final VA improvements (odds ratio (OR) 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21 ~ 0.93, p < 0.01); in contrast, age (OR − 0.38, 95% CI − 6.97 ~ − 1.85, p < 0.01) and initial CRT (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34 ~ 0.84, p < 0.01) both influenced the final CRT reduction at 24 months. To sum up, both aflibercept and ranibizumab are effective in managing DME with PDR in terms of VA, CRT and MA count. Eyes receiving aflibercept required less supplementary PRP and SMPL treatment than those receiving ranibizumab. The initial VA influenced the final VA improvements at 24 months, while age and initial CRT were prognostic predictors of 24-month CRT reduction.

Quantification of the Material Flow from the Modal Shift of Motorcycle Electrification Under Climate Change Adaption Policy in Taiwan

Quantification of the Material Flow from the Modal Shift of Motorcycle Electrification Under Climate Change Adaption Policy in Taiwan

Mandarin-plus to Mandarin-inclusive: Conceptualising the New Pluralistic Language Policy in Taiwan

Mandarin-plus to Mandarin-inclusive: Conceptualising the New Pluralistic Language Policy in Taiwan

Analysis of COVID-19 rapid antigen and PCR detection policy

After the outbreak of COVID-19, Taiwan has implemented rigorous border control and taken specific measures such as virus detection, contact tracing, and quarantine since 2020. Its epidemic prevention performance has been quite outstanding. Even in May 2021, when the epidemic situation worsens, the people in Taiwan fully cooperate with the government’s control measures so as to successfully alleviate and control the epidemic in less than three months. Among them, the detection policy has played a pivotal role. We analyze and discuss the false positive and false negative problems from rapid antigen and PCR detection in the screening policy as well as the timing of using these two instruments. This paper provides theoretical verification of the appropriateness of screening policy in Taiwan, offering a few feasible suggestions for related policies in other countries or regions at different stages of this and other potential epidemics.

Taiwan's COVID‐19 Response: The Interdependence of State and Private Sector Institutions

ABSTRACTDuring 2020, Taiwan's facemask policy formed a critical part of its relatively successful response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. It also served to showcase capacities for coordinated action by state and business actors. This article demonstrates that Taiwan's ability to rapidly increase facemask production called for the government and key industry players to overcome a series of cooperation challenges. The authors show that the effective industry response required concerted action in three domains: the state sector, business–government cooperation, and cooperation among private firms. This article makes two contributions. First, it differentiates the dynamics attached to coordination, commitment and collective action challenges that actors in public and private sectors needed to overcome in order to deliver on the policy. Second, it contributes to the literature by endorsing the view that business–government cooperation and private sector coordination are complementary and interdependent. The findings presented here further illustrate the evolution of Taiwan's state institutions in their capacity to take on new tasks and modes of interaction with private sector actors.

Impact of Gender and Age on Claim Rates of Dread Disease and Cancer Insurance Policies in Taiwan

In this paper, the impact of both gender and age on the claim rates of dread disease and cancer insurance policies were examined using unique data taken from Taiwan’s private health insurance policies issued by non-life insurers during the 2012 to 2015 policy years. Those aged 30–39 served as the reference group. For the total number of dread disease policies, male insureds had a higher non-cancer claim probability than female insureds, while an age under 20 was associated with much lower claim rates for dread disease policies than for ages over 50. The claim rate for dread disease policies increased rapidly beginning at age 40 for both cancerous and non-cancerous diseases amongst male insureds. Amongst female insureds, those under 20 had much lower claim rates for dread disease policies. Only those aged 50–59 had a higher claim rate for non-cancerous diseases. For the total number of cancer insurance policies, male insureds had lower claim rates than female insureds, with an upward trend being associated with age. For male (female) insureds aged over 40 (20), the claim rates of cancer increased with age.

Assessment of Voltage Imbalance Improvement and Power Loss Reduction in Residential Distribution Systems in Taiwan

In this study, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is used to optimize the annual phase arrangement of distribution transformers connected to primary feeders to improve three-phase imbalance and reduce power loss. Based on the data of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), a quasi-real-time ZIP load model and typical sample distribution systems in Taiwan are constructed. The equivalent circuit models and solution algorithms for typical distribution systems in Taiwan are built using the commercial software package MATLAB. A series of simulations, analyses, comparisons, and explorations is executed. Finally, the quantitative evaluation results for improving the voltage imbalance and reducing the power loss are summarized. For the series of studies, the percentage reductions in (1) total power imbalance TSI, (2) total line loss TLL, (3) average voltage drop AVD, (4) total voltage imbalance factors for zero/negative sequences Td0/Td2, and (5) neutral current of the main transformer ILCO are up to 45.48%, 4.06%, 16.61%, 63.99%, 21.33%, and 88.01%, respectively. The results obtained in this study can be applied for energy saving and can aid the authorities to implement sustainable development policies in Taiwan.

US policy on Taiwan 2002–2018

The Taiwan issue has always been the most sensitive and difficult in China – US relations. This article examines the US policy on Taiwan from 2002 to 2018 in the context of the Sino – US relations related to China’s territorial unification and sovereignty integrity. The article also concerns the global strategic interests of the United States. In particular, after the Trump administration came to power it fre- quently touched China’s bottom line of maintaining adherence to the One China poli- cy, which led to a rise of the Taiwan issue and aggravated the turmoil in the Taiwan Strait. The US policy toward Taiwan has changed not only on the issue of peace and stability across Taiwan Strait but also related to the increased risk of Sino – US mili- tary conflict. Therefore, it is very important to consider the US policy toward Taiwan during outlined period. The author adopts historical analysis and literature research methods, and based on a significant number of the scientific research results of Chinese and American scholars. The research content covers the Taiwan policy of the administra- tion Bush, Obama, and Trump. The author attempts to expose the strategic essence behind the US policy toward Taiwan, focusing on analyzing the relationship between US policymaking and the China and Taiwan’ relationship factors. The article finds that the US Taiwan policy can be generally regarded as subordination to the China strategy, but there are some cases different from it. On this basis, this article discov- ers variables of China – US relations, US – Taiwan relations, the United States Con- gress and Taiwan politics to prove the hypothesis that US Taiwan policy follows the China’s policy in the majority of cases.

International Norms, Policy Transfers and Energy Transition: Implications for Taiwan’s Development

The development of renewable energy policies in Taiwan has been thoroughly discussed from political, economic, social, industrial and environmental perspectives. Energy policies, particularly those adopted by the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations, have influenced both (1) the decision-making process of energy policies such as action plans, programs and (2) the transition to renewable energies. This paper argues that the transfer of global environmental and energy policies serves as the mechanism behind Taiwan’s efforts to expand renewable energy production. These global policies have so far been practiced by international organizations through agreements designed to combat climate change, achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), and reduce fossil fuel subsidies. This paper examines renewable energy policies and legislation in Taiwan through the lens of policy transfers, an area which has not been fully explored in previous research.

From Strategic Ambiguity to Maximum Pressure? Explaining the Logic of the US Taiwan Policy in the Post–Cold War Era

How do changes in US Taiwan policy play out? What is the logic behind these changes? To address these questions, existing studies have formulated four schools of explanation, providing valuable theoretical insights. However, these studies have obvious problems with unidirectional dichotomy and thus fail to identify a causal mechanism explaining the long-term trajectory of US Taiwan policy. This article conducts a re-typology of US Taiwan policy to break the traditional strategic ambiguity–clarity dichotomy by establishing three key indicators and argues that the orientation of US China policy and Taiwan’s US policy are the two major factors triggering changes. By conceptualizing and operationalizing the two independent variables as engagement-oriented, coopetition-oriented, containment-oriented, and hedging/bandwagoning/binding, this article develops a systemic theoretical framework to demonstrate how the US Taiwan policy transits between strategic clarity, maximum pressure, partial strategic clarity, between partial strategic clarity and strategic ambiguity, strategic ambiguity, and controlling the pro-independent forces. This article conducts empirical studies by reviewing the transition of US Taiwan policy under different presidencies in post–Cold War era to demonstrate how the theoretical framework works in realpolitik.

Fiscal policy responses for sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery: Taiwan's experience

PurposeThis study examined Taiwan's fiscal policy responses for sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery. The costs and benefits, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), of fiscal policy responses were identified and valued. Although it may be too early to conclude whether the benefits outweigh the costs, the performance and outcome of fiscal measures were evaluated.Design/methodology/approachThe study relied on secondary data, including governmental official data, legislative reviews, audit reports and public opinion polls to understand objective and subjective benefits and costs in economic, social and environmental dimensions. However, while the costs were measured in monetary terms, some of the benefits (i.e. satisfaction) could not be monetized; therefore, this study focused on identifying and valuing benefits from fiscal measures but set aside the issues of monetizing and discounting.FindingsWith respect to the costs, a special budget of NT$840 billion was approved, of which 66.83% was allocated for economic development, 33.12% for social welfare and 0.05% for environmental protection. In terms of the benefits, the economic growth rate was forecasted to be 5.88% in 2021 and 3.69% in 2022, while the average economic growth rate was 2.77% during the period from 2012 to 2019. Social equity was emphasized as various and customized bailout packages were provided to impacted individuals and industries. Moreover, most citizens were confident in the government's efforts to combat the pandemic and stimulate recovery in Taiwan.Originality/valueThis paper comprehensively details Taiwan's experience of fiscal policy responses for sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery. The cost-benefit approach was conceptually adopted. Bearing the value of “build back better” and “rebuild better,” the benefits of fiscal measures are promising, although there are indebted costs of the special budget.

Halved Incidence of Scrub Typhus after Travel Restrictions to Confine a Surge of COVID-19 in Taiwan.

Scrub typhus is a rickettsial disease that is usually transmitted by mite exposure. Infected patients may present with a fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. A blackish skin lesion, called eschar, is pathognomic. The mortality rate in untreated cases is high. The first case of scrub typhus in Taiwan was reported in 1908 during the Japanese colonization. In this article, using the National Infectious Disease Statistics System (NIDSS) from the Taiwan CDC, we analyzed the dynamic incidence of scrub typhus from 2016 to 2021, both seasonally and geographically. In addition, we asked whether the recent travel restrictions and social distancing policy in Taiwan (19 May to 27 July 2021), implemented due to the COVID-19 outbreak, would change the incidence of scrub typhus. The results showed that scrub typhus was most common in summer, with an incidence almost twofold greater than that in winter or spring. Most cases were identified in rural regions. Interestingly, there was a significant 52% reduction in the summer incidence in 2021, compared to the average summer incidence of the past 5 years. This reduction coincided with the countrywide lockdown measures and travel restrictions. The restricted measures for outdoor activities may have contributed to the reduced incidence of scrub typhus.

Comparing Fear of COVID-19 and Preventive COVID-19 Infection Behaviors Between Iranian and Taiwanese Older People: Early Reaction May Be a Key.

This study assessed fear of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors, and the association between fear of COVID-19 and preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors among older people in Iran and Taiwan. Older people aged over 60 years (n = 144 for Iranians and 139 for Taiwanese) completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and two items on preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors (i.e., hand washing and mouth covering when sneezing). Iranian older people had a significantly higher level of fear of COVID-19 than did Taiwanese older people. Moreover, Iranian older people had significantly lower frequencies of preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors than did Taiwanese older people. Different timings in implementing COVID-19 infection control policies in Iran and Taiwan may explain why Iranian older people had greater fear of COVID-19 and lower preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors than did Taiwanese older people.

Crafting Compliance Regime under COVID-19: Using Taiwan's Quarantine Policy as a Case Study.

One year after the World Health Organization declared COVID‐19 a global pandemic, governments around the world adopt similar practices in containing the COVID‐19 spread. Nevertheless, variation exists in the level of policy compliance, which directly contribute to policy success/failure across countries. As the pandemic continues, pandemic fatigue also decreases the public’s willingness to comply. Increasing policy compliance during the remainder of pandemic has become a transnational concern. Using Taiwan’s quarantine policy as an example, this article illustrates three aspects to craft an effective compliance regime to fight public health crises like COVID‐19: (1) a comprehensive policy mix to reduce heterogeneous compliance barriers that impact different social groups; (2) constant and various policy communication with heterogeneous target audiences; and (3) leveraging and integrating street‐level bureaucrats in the policy implementation stages. Taiwan’s case provides several policy lessons for other countries: compliance regime is not driven by top‐down enforcement but through the integration of policy design and implementation that remove all barriers for compliance. Taiwan’s street level bureaucrats are the glue of the compliance regime. This article bears policy implications for policy makers around the world when aiming for increasing policy compliance.

A Case Study of Green Energy Roofs in Taiwan Using Financial Analyses

As part of the low-carbon policy and development in Taiwan, the Bureau of Energy introduced the “Green Energy Roofs Project” in 2017, which encouraged homeowners to install green energy roofs. However, the incentives of homeowners and solar photovoltaic operators to participate in this Project were low. The aim of this study is to propose and evaluate alternative models for investing green energy roofs. The contributions of this study are that, first, we consider factors such as risk management schemes and crowdfunding that have not been considered in evaluating green energy roofs project. In addition, this study provides a solution to Taiwan government’s current dilemma about how to encourage homeowners to install green energy roofs. This study adopts five common investment appraisal methods (including payback period, discounted payback period, net present value, internal rate of return and profitability index) to evaluate four different models for investing green energy roofs. The results show that when homeowners are fully responsible for installation costs of green energy roofs with partial funds borrowed from banks and with consideration of risk management, the homeowners have better investment returns. Therefore, the Taiwan government could consider the alternative strategy proposed in this study for promoting green energy roofs so that the country can x`move a bigger step forward towards the goal of being nuclear-free.

A hybrid optimisation decision model for a smart green energy industry park: Exploring the impact of the carbon tax policy in Taiwan

Smart green energy development is an increasingly pressing public concern for the government advocate policy, as it responds to the challenges of climate change. The national green energy policy can promote the development of optimal electricity portfolios from smart green energy industry parks, thereby ensuring the maximized benefits of energy supply, energy storage, and energy-saving technologies, while accelerating the promotion of green energy industry economics. This study presents a novel 0–1 Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) decision model that focuses on the scenario project costs, the feed-in tariff prices and the quantity of the carbon footprint, in relation to the effects of the tax policy, for determining maximum scenario project profits. The major contributions of this study are as follows: [1] The integrated model can help green energy contractors to understand how to allocate resources and funding for sustainable environmental activities of each scenario project, by using appropriate cost drivers; [2] The obtained portfolio shows the maximum profits for green energy planning and contributes to the development of the national energy policy in Taiwan; and [3] This study contributes to innovative industrial engineering research into the problem of green energy planning, by considering a portfolio with different energy categories, and the results prove the superiority of smart green energy planning that considers a carbon tax policy.

The Chineseness of Urban Cultural Policy in Taiwan

ABSTRACT The narrative of Chinese culture occupied the central position in Taiwan’s cultural policy agenda after the Kuomintang (KMT) retreated to the island in 1949, but the primary (if not exclusive) focus on Chinese culture became contentious after democratisation and bentuhua (“Taiwanisation”) in the late 1980s. This prompted the KMT to redesign and renegotiate its cultural policy objectives in accordance with the changing political climate. Nevertheless, as shown in this article, these revisions were not as extensive or as progressive as one might have anticipated. This study examines the roles and meanings attached to Chinese culture by the KMT in the context of urban cultural policy. Drawing on interviews with local policymakers and policy document analysis, it explores cultural policy in Taipei during the KMT’s incumbency in the city (1998–2014), arguing that despite the adoption of multiculturalism and bentuhua narratives at the national and municipal levels of government, the KMT’s version of Chinese culture continued to dominate cultural policy discourse in Taipei until as late as 2014.

Assessment of Energy Transition Policy in Taiwan—A View of Sustainable Development Perspectives

Energy transition has become a priority for adaptive policy and measures taken in response to climate change around the world. This is an opportunity and a challenge for the Taiwan government to establish a climate-resilient power generation mixed to ensure electricity security as well as climate change mitigation. This study adopted a sustainable development perspective and applied optimal control theory to establish a cost-effective model to evaluate a long-term (2050), climate-resilient power generation mix for Taiwan. Furthermore, this study applies the STIRPAT approach to predict the demand of electricity by 2050 for the demand side management. The results not only showed the share of various power generation mixed, but also recommended the trajectory of electricity saving by 2050.

Influences of Taiwan's corporate social responsibility report management policy on the information transparency of its capital market

The management policy for Taiwan's corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting was changed from elective to partial mandatory. Some companies that have already submitted their reports are also required to undergo assurance provided by accountants. The present study explores the influences of Taiwan's partial mandatory disclosure and partial mandatory assurance management policies for CSR reports on firms' investment to cash flow sensitivity which is used to measure the information transparency of the capital market. The results showed that investment to cash flow sensitivity decreased after mandatory disclosure and mandatory assurance. This implies that the partial mandatory disclosure and the partial mandatory assurance policies for CSR reports have a positive influence on mitigating information asymmetry and agency problems being experienced by firms. It also indicates that Taiwan's partial mandatory disclosure and partial mandatory assurance policies for CSR reports aid in increasing information transparency of its capital market.

The Biden Administration’s China and Taiwan Policies: Connecting the Dots

US China and US Taiwan policies in the first half-year plus of the Biden administration saw relations with China deteriorate and improve with Taiwan. This furthered trends of the Trump presidency and appeared to push the United States closer to a war with China. The author also looks at the power relationship between the two countries and President Biden’s desperate efforts to gather allies against China, making it a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism.