The wealth gap in Taiwan has reached a historical high according to the latest stats released by the Ministry of Finance, with the richest segment of the population making 28 times more than the poorest in average annual income. And many believe the ROC's unjust tax system is the major reason behind the worsening social problem.

Mr. Yo collects recyclable materials every afternoon in the shopping district of the Ximengding in Taipei City, sorting PET bottles out of soda cans before putting them into plastic bags and sending them to the recycle plant.

Through collecting bottle and cans, he can earn around 20,000 NT dollar a month, and that is the sole income of his family. People like Mr. Yo, who suffer from middle-age unemployment didnt really benefit from the recent so-called recovering economy.

According to the report released by the Ministry of Finance, in 2009, the income of the richest in Taiwan is 28 times more than that the least income.

The annual income of the wealthiest is nearly 2.81 million NT dollars while the poorest earn merely 99,000 NT dollars throughout the year.

Fair Tax Alliance believes that the government should levy land transaction tax, and securities transactions tax as a way to narrow the wealth gap, and help the mid-and low-income families with subsidies funded by the tax.

The Ministry of Finance said that according to the statistics of the annual income tax of 2009, the average household income has decreased, while the income of low-and mid-income families has declined even more.

The ministry said that it is the main cause of the widening wealth gap phenomenon.

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