Concluding Remarks

Hou-sheng ChanHou-sheng Chan

Professor (part-time)Professor (part-time)

National Taiwan UniversityNational Taiwan University

National Chi-Nan University,National Chi-Nan University,

Director Director

Social Security DivisionSocial Security Division

National Policy FoundationNational Policy Foundation

FROM CHIBA TO TAIPEI

Appreciation :Appreciation :

Understanding:

Missions of the 2nd Social Quality ConferMissions of the 2nd Social Quality Conference in Asia and Pacific Regionence in Asia and Pacific Region

(1) Provide the social quality paradigm a(1) Provide the social quality paradigm as a new approach to study human welfare s a new approach to study human welfare or well-being with a fundamental concept or well-being with a fundamental concept of sustainability.of sustainability.

Understanding:

(2) Enhance communication in con(2) Enhance communication in concepts and practical programmes cepts and practical programmes of social quality between Europe of social quality between Europe and Asian region.and Asian region.

(3) Attempt to build up indicators (3) Attempt to build up indicators of social quality for the purpose of social quality for the purpose of further comparative research.of further comparative research.

Recognising:

Within Asia and Pacific Region: more divWithin Asia and Pacific Region: more divergent than convergentergent than convergent

(1) different levels in economic performanc(1) different levels in economic performance, and different size of population,e, and different size of population,

(2) wider spectrum in the role of the govern(2) wider spectrum in the role of the government ranging from social democratic state tment ranging from social democratic state to single-party dominated state,o single-party dominated state,

Recognising:

(3) growing disparity between the high (3) growing disparity between the high and low income social groups, betwand low income social groups, between urban and rural areas, and eveeen urban and rural areas, and even between social classes,n between social classes,

(4) heterogenous contents in social val(4) heterogenous contents in social values, cultures, and heritages,ues, cultures, and heritages,

Pros:

(1) the importance and the significance (1) the importance and the significance of social quality approach,of social quality approach,

(2) a holistic perspective linking human (2) a holistic perspective linking human welfare, social stability and environmwelfare, social stability and environment into the context of sustainability, ent into the context of sustainability,

(3) a platform of discourse for academia,(3) a platform of discourse for academia, political policy makers, and activists political policy makers, and activists of NGO.of NGO.

Cons:

(1) more dis-consensus than consensus (1) more dis-consensus than consensus in the main concepts of social qualitin the main concepts of social quality: social economic security, social iy: social economic security, social inclusion, social cohesion, and social nclusion, social cohesion, and social empowerment, etc., empowerment, etc.,

(2) lack of operational definitions of th(2) lack of operational definitions of the above concepts: e above concepts:

Cons:

(3) lack of data base for building up c(3) lack of data base for building up comparable social indicators, both nomparable social indicators, both nationally and regionally, ationally and regionally,

(4) support from the governmental sec(4) support from the governmental sectors varies. tors varies.

Committing:

(1) need for more dialogue and commu(1) need for more dialogue and communication between Europe and Asia nication between Europe and Asia and Pacific region,and Pacific region,

(2) need to build up a data base in the (2) need to build up a data base in the region for further comparative studregion for further comparative study,y,

FROM TAIPEI TO …………

Thank You!!Thank You!!