2010-06-27

Latest DPP survey on ECFA shows reasons for concern


The Ma administration has been setting its goals on signing ECFA with China. As this is an important issue for Taiwan, the DPP has conducted various surveys regarding the public reaction on ECFA and on June 24, the results of the latest survey gives reason for the DPP to show concern.

There are still nearly 70% of the public that is unclear on the contents and the impact of ECFA. Even though the government has repeatedly said that ECFA will bring major economic benefits for Taiwan’s economy, the survey shows more than 70% of the public said to believe these benefits were only favorable to large enterprises. Simultaneously, the majority of the public showed concern that after ECFA is signed, the problem of lowered wages, unemployment and wealth gap will get worse.

Based on the June 24 survey, the following issues appeared to be a concern by the Taiwanese public:

43.2% of the public said to believe that after signing ECFA, their personal income will be reduced. Only 26.2% said to believe that their personal income will be increased while 18.4% said to believe there will be no great difference.

From a self-identified social class point of view, among the ones that identified themselves as coming from the “lower class”, there were nearly 60% (58.8%) that said to believe their personal income will be reduced after signing ECFA.

64.3% of the public said to believe that after ECFA, their “financial burden” will increase while 13.9% said to believe it will decrease and 11% said that it will remain about the same.

Regardless of social class, the majority said to believe after ECFA, their financial burden will continue to increase.

The following is the public’s view on the impact of ECFA to Taiwan’s overall social environment:

52.3% of the public said to believe that after signing ECFA, the unemployment problem in Taiwan will get worse while 38.1% of the public said to believe that it will improve.

From a self-identified social class point of view, among the ones that identified themselves as coming from the “lower class”, there were 67% that said to believe that the unemployment problem will get worse. Among those that identified themselves as coming from the “middle class”, the proportion between a pessimistic and optimistic view regarding the unemployment problem was 48% and 44% respectively. Among those that identified themselves as coming from the “upper class”, there were 53% that said to believe the unemployment problem will improve while 39% said that it will get worse.

86% of the public said to believe that after ECFA is signed, the wealth gap in Taiwan will increase while 7.1% of the public said to believe it will decrease.

Regardless of social class, over 84% of the public said to believe the wealth gap in Taiwan will become even more evident after signing ECFA.
The survey was conducted by the DPP Survey Center between June 22 to 23. The sampling number was 1,089 individuals with a sampling error of approximately 3% among 95% confidence level. The survey was conducted by random selection of telephone numbers among national voters twenty-years old and above.


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