International Journal of Public and Private Healthcare Management and Economics, 2(4), 1-13, October-December 2012 1 Copyright © 2012, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Keywords: Social Development, Social Development Framework, Social Empowerment, Social Quality, Taiwan BACKGROUND In 1997, the Amsterdam Declaration, supported by over 1,000 social scientists from throughout Europe, urged the nations of the European Union to develop their individual societies with the concept of social quality (SQ). The main purpose was to denounce a purely economic develop- ment model and to promote a comprehensive model that encompasses not only economic development, but social justice, equity and solidarity. Societies should allow each citizen full opportunities to ‘participate in the social and economic life of their communities and to do so under conditions which enhance their well-being, their individual potential and the welfare of their communities.’ (Amsterdam Declaration, 1997) Though this important document primarily addressed the European countries at that time, it caught the attention of Asian scholars as well (Ku, 2001). Later on, the European Foundation on Social Quality further developed the social quality approach from a ‘vision for Europe’ to a more global vision. Asian social scientists and researchers became new partners of social quality research. Using Social Quality as a Framework for Analyzing Social Development in Taiwan Lih-Rong Wang, Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan Yun-Tung Wang, Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan Peishan Yang, Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan ABSTRACT This study applies social quality framework to analyze the current social development of Taiwan by utilizing governmental database as secondary dataset and using meta-analysis as further check in data collection. This study found that the social development of current Taiwan society basically keeps progressing along with requirements and indicators of social quality. Among them, Taiwan’s performance of social development in dimension of social economic security goes best. And in social inclusion and social empowerment dimen- sions, the indicators obviously show much progressive. However, the biggest room for further improvement and development is in social cohesion. DOI: 10.4018/ijpphme.2012100101