Passage of the Lobbying Law in August last year should have been a bright spot in Taiwan’s legislative history. It made Taiwan only the third country in the world – after the United States and Canada – to enact a law to seek to control abuses of money and influence in the political process.

But unfortunately the law was drafted, and passed, with insufficient attention to political realities and implementing procedures. As a result, no sooner had the statute come into effect last month after a one-year waiting period than a raft of serious problems became evident. Additional shortcomings are certain to arise as more and more organizations, companies, and individuals gain practical experience grappling with the law’s restrictions.

• Can Taiwan be an Asset Management Center? - By Brian Asmus
• The Taiwan Stock Market – Beyond the Current Turbulence - By Don Shapiro
• Labor Pension Fund: How to Invest Effectively? - By Philip Liu

Setting the Right Agenda: A Report on the Capital Markets Sector

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* CROSS-STRAIT

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