11/16/2006

Watering down the Dust



This guy is watering down the dust from a construction site even though it has just rained and will rain again (see overcast conditions). According to my classmate Simon, Taiwanese work at an efficiency rate of 44% compared to Americans. This seems to be a good example of what he is talking about. Recently, the work week has been reduced from six days to five, with hours going from 48 to 44. Taiwan does not lack a sharp workforce. Someday, it might even be put to good use.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd like to ask Simon where he got this information or how he comes up with it?

Anonymous said...

According to Simon, the number is arrived at using GDP and total numbers of hours worked. He seems to feel that education is a meaningless value; as of 1996, 22% of Taiwan's population had a university degree. I suggested that for the workers to be more efficient, reorganization would be necessary. Get rid of lousy managers that are promoted based on time served instead of ability. Simon thinks its more complicated than that.

Anonymous said...

What's the source? I wouldn't think that finding a percent such as 44 is possible.

Anonymous said...

van Ark, Bart and Timmer, Marcel. Realising Growth Potential: South Korea and Taiwan, 1960 to 1998

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