Business Differences
Taiwan is a developed country with a strong economy so its business practices are not that different from ours in the West. Where I live in Kinmen, however, businesses are very different. For example, there are not many corporations here, except for Carrefour, a global supermarket chain, and McDonalds, an American fast food chain. Most of the businesses are Taiwanese and sell everyday goods such as foods, applicances, household items, etc. Most people do not live lavishly, and farm work is a common way of living here. It is a rural area for Taiwan, and the GDP per capita is about average for Taiwan. Largely because of the lack of city life and corporations, the business world in Kinmen is very laid back. There is not as much competition to meet urgent business needs as there is in, for example, Manhattan, New York. Likewise, the taxes in Taiwan are lower than they generally are in America. My taxes are about 5% in total. However, when I lived in New York and Washington, D.C., my taxes were about 8%, plus ESPP, 401K, and other deductions.
Cultural Differences
Taiwan is known for its friendliness. The people are enormously kind and generous.
