| Abstract: | A bstract . The significance of economic development in the Republic of China on Taiwan cannot be adequately recognized without a concomitant assessment of the social changes that have taken place over the last 30 years. The concept of social indicators as measures of such changes is explored and their applicability to the island determined. Levels of the quality of life from different periods are studied and their advances analyzed. Taiwan's levels are compared with those of developed countries and of the People's Republic of China (Mainland China). Taiwan's show evidence of remarkable progress. The impacts of energy developments and of the recession's deterioration of foreign trade have threatened the rate as well as the absolute level of this progress. |
