GROWTH WITH POLLUTION - UNSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TAIWAN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

During the 1980s, economic development in Taiwan received much attention in development studies. The ''Taiwan miracle'' has made Taiwan rich and famous. This article examines an often ignored aspect of development-environmental quality-and argues that Taiwan has achieved ''growth with pollution'' that will not increase but decrease the welfare of the people in the long run. The root cause of Taiwan's environmental degradation rests on the obsession with fast economic growth at any cost by the powerful coalition between the ruling Kuomington and the capitalists. The article argues that the case of Taiwan is far from being a ''model'' for developing countries. Taiwan's experience of ''growth with pollution,'' on the contrary, should stand as a warning to other developing countries pursuing similar development paths.