Jack F. Williams
1991, 11(4): 346-356.
In the last decade considerable attention has been focussed on Hainan and its development efforts.As part of that process,frequent suggestions have been made that Hainan might copy the Taiwan"model" of development,given a number of physical and cultural similarities between the two Chinese islands.Taiwan's success is indisputable,no matter what indices are used.However,development is a complex process and,must be examined from the perspective of both the philosophy or objectives of development as well as specific policies designed to achieve development goals.Development should be aimed at improving the broad welfare of the commoncitizens in the economic,social,and political spheres.This has been the experience of Taiwan.A distillation of the extensive literature on Taiwan's development experience produces a list of both internal and external factors that explain or account for Taiwan's success.The internal factors include:focus on comparative advantage;correct sequencing of development;export-expanding strategy;realistic monetary policies;strong agricultural sector;rural industrialization and controlled urbanization;right degree of government involvement;enhancement of human resources through education;public investment in development projects(especially transportation and infrastructure).The external factors include:U. S. economic aid during the formative period up to Take Off in the 1960s;access to the huge U.S..and world economicsystem in terms of export markets,capital and technology,political and cultural linkages;luck in historical timing.Some of the internal factors of the Taiwan model might have utility in Hainan's development plans.Moreover,Hainan must also learn from Taiwan's mistakes: environmental pollution;increase in social unrest,corruption,crime;excessively imbalanced foreign trade and consequent foreign relations problems.
