Taipei, Kinmen top happiest district survey

2015/09/07

Taipei City and outlying Kinmen County are the happiest localities in Taiwan, according to a nationwide survey published Sept. 2 by locally based CommonWealth Magazine.

Comprising results of government-initiated polls, official statistics and a telephone questionnaire conducted July 8 to Aug. 14 involving 14,603 individuals aged 20 and above, the survey rated performances of the nation’s six special municipalities and 16 cities and counties against 73 indicators in five categories.

Taipei is the overall leader among its peers, followed by Tainan and Kaohsiung Cities in southern Taiwan, with Taoyuan City last. Kinmen, Lienchiang County and Hsinchu City are the top three happiest districts in that order, while Miaoli County finished at the bottom.

In the category of economic vitality, which is measured against such factors as household disposable income, per capita business revenues and consumption, as well as unemployment, Taipei and Hsinchu Cities topped their respective charts, with Kaohsiung and Chiayi County the worst performers.

On the environmental protection front, top spots went to Taipei and Lienchiang, while Taoyuan and Yunlin County came last. Key factors in this category include carbon reductions, energy and water consumption, public transportation rate, resources recycling and waste generation.

Concerning culture and education as measured by per capita cultural and creative revenues, percentage of relevant budget in public spending and school dropout rate, among others, Taipei and Hsinchu Cities outperformed all others in their respective groups, while Taoyuan and Chiayi County scored the fewest points.

In terms of governance gauged against crime rates, drunken driving fatalities, public finances and other indicators, Taipei and Kinmen again finished top, while Taichung and Miaoli brought up the rear.

Regarding social welfare performances, Taichung and Kinmen were at the head of the pack, but Taoyuan and Miaoli were at the other end of the scale. The main determinants were suicide rates, government spending, senior visitations, and volunteer and welfare services.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=234623&ctNode=413)