Taiwan's standard of living surpasses Japan's

[bhchao]

Taiwan's standard of living has just surpassed Japan's: http://www.economist.com/node/17473187

Based on per capita income using purchasing-power parity, it costs less to eat and sleep in Taiwan than it does in Japan, even though Taiwan has twice the population density.

[Brian US]

Five prime ministers in four years doesn't really project an image of stability.

[bhchao]

Five prime ministers in four years doesn't really project an image of stability.

I was wondering that myself. It seems like there's a new prime minister in Japan every four months.

[Guest realmayo]

Arguably it projects a very stable image: ie the body-politic is pretty much united and it doesn't matter who is the nominal head!

[dreamon]

http://www.economist.com/node/17473187> Taiwanese food may seem cheap next to Japan’s sashimi and fugu. But then again, how much would you pay for stinky tofu?

Do people (of comparable occupation) indeed eat better food in Japan than in Taiwan? What else is better in Japan regarding everyday life? Is there something that's better in Taiwan?

[jbradfor]

Is there something that's better in Taiwan?

水餃. Yummy 水餃.

Seriously, I'm not sure whether the typical Japanese meal is "better" (whatever you mean by that) than the typical Taiwanese meal.. But based on my trips there, the equivalent food (e.g. similar raw ingredients, similar labor involved) is much more expensive in Japan than in Taiwan.

[adrianlondon]

I've been reliably informed that many Japanese go on holiday to Taipei (and also visit Tamsui/Danshui) to eat seafood and in Japanese restauants. Quality is as good as in Japan but the prices are much cheaper.

I've not been to Japan so can't compare (but have been to Taiwan and the food there is excellent).

[Mugi]

Overall, the food is much healthier in Japan. When it comes to seafood, hygiene is much, much better in Japan, and as far as sashimi is concerned, you're never going to find a better place than Japan. But Taiwan has some seafood that is not readily available in Japan, and other kinds of cuisine that are unique to the island, or at least hard to come by elsewhere. When you're just talking about value-for-money though, Taiwan would have to beat Japan, but it depends on exactly what you want to eat. If you move away from Asian cuisine, you can eat world-class French and Italian in Tokyo at an affordable price, but you certainly can't do that in Taiwan.

[gato]

And the food hygiene in Taiwan is much better than mainland China.