Taiwan's economy is experiencing a boom, with GDP growth projected to reach 10.16%, but the benefits are not being felt by everyone. While the semiconductor industry is thriving, with TSMC leading the way, the rest of the economy is struggling. The average income is rising, but this is largely due to high-paid workers in a few sectors, leaving many others behind. The wealth gap is even more stark, with the wealthiest 20% of households having an average net worth of NT$51.33 million, while the poorest 20% have an average net worth of just NT$770,000. This is due in part to the high cost of housing, with the median home price in Taipei being 14.62 times the median household's annual disposable income. The situation is particularly dire for those living in the "egg white" and "egg shell" areas, who are being priced out of the market. The polarization across industries and society is a concern, as it undermines the competitiveness of the economy as a whole. The government is trying to spread the success of the semiconductor industry to other sectors, but it remains to be seen if this will be enough to address the underlying issues.
