Concluding Remarks Hou-sheng Chan Professor (part-time) National Taiwan University National Chi-Nan University, Director Social Security Division National Policy Foundation

FROM CHIBA TO TAIPEI Appreciation : Appreciation :

Understanding: Missions of the 2nd Social Quality Conference in Asia and Pacific Region Missions of the 2nd Social Quality Conference in Asia and Pacific Region (1) Provide the social quality paradigm as a new approach to study human welfare or well-being with a fundamental concept of sustainability. (1) Provide the social quality paradigm as a new approach to study human welfare or well-being with a fundamental concept of sustainability.

Understanding: (2) Enhance communication in concepts and practical programmes of social quality between Europe and Asian region. (3) Attempt to build up indicators of social quality for the purpose of further comparative research. (3) Attempt to build up indicators of social quality for the purpose of further comparative research.

Recognising: Within Asia and Pacific Region: more divergent than convergent Within Asia and Pacific Region: more divergent than convergent (1) different levels in economic performance, and different size of population, (1) different levels in economic performance, and different size of population, (2) wider spectrum in the role of the government ranging from social democratic state to single-party dominated state, (2) wider spectrum in the role of the government ranging from social democratic state to single-party dominated state,

Recognising: (3) growing disparity between the high and low income social groups, between urban and rural areas, and even between social classes, (4) heterogenous contents in social values, cultures, and heritages,

Pros: (1) the importance and the significance of social quality approach, (2) a holistic perspective linking human welfare, social stability and environment into the context of sustainability, (3) a platform of discourse for academia, political policy makers, and activists of NGO.

Cons: (1) more dis-consensus than consensus in the main concepts of social quality: social economic security, social inclusion, social cohesion, and social empowerment, etc., (2) lack of operational definitions of the above concepts:

Cons: (3) lack of data base for building up comparable social indicators, both nationally and regionally, (4) support from the governmental sectors varies.

Committing: (1) need for more dialogue and communication between Europe and Asia and Pacific region, (2) need to build up a data base in the region for further comparative study,

FROM TAIPEI TO ………… Thank You!!