Ho Chih-chin (; 16 June 1952 – 8 November 2016) was a Taiwanese economist who served as the

Minister of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfolio ...

from 2006 to 2008.

Education

Ho was born in Taiwan to Dr. Ho Jen-Ching and Hsiao Ten-Hsin. He had a sister, Ho Li-Chin. Ho graduated from

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; zh, t=國立臺灣大學, poj=Kok-li̍p Tâi-oân Tāi-ha̍k, p=, s=) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1928 during Taiwan under J ...

with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1974. He then completed doctoral studies in the United States at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, where he earned his Ph.D. in economics in 1987. His doctoral dissertation was titled, "Determinants of U.S. Interregional Trade Patterns: An Empirical Assessment (United States)," and was completed under professors Robert M. Stern and

Alan Deardorff Alan V. Deardorff (born 1944) is the John W. Sweetland Professor Emeritus of International Economics and a professor emeritus of Public Policy at the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Ann Arbor.

Early career

After receiving his doctorate from the University of Michigan, Ho worked for the

United States Department of the Treasury The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the Treasury, national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States. It is one of 15 current United States federal executive departments, U.S. government departments. ...

. In 2003, he returned to Taiwan to teach at

Ministry of Finance

After the resignation of incumbent

Finance Minister A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...

Joseph Lyu was approved by

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of govern ...

Su Tseng-chang Su Tseng-chang ( zh, t=蘇貞昌, poj=So͘ Cheng-chhiong, p=Sū Zhēnchāng; born 28 July 1948) is a Taiwanese politician who served as premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2019 to 2023. He was the chairma ...

on 29 June 2006, Ho was appointed to the ministerial post and assumed the position on 4 July. During his term in office, Ho reformed the consolidated

income tax An income tax is a tax imposed on individuals or entities (taxpayers) in respect of the income or profits earned by them (commonly called taxable income). Income tax generally is computed as the product of a tax rate times the taxable income. Tax ...

and estate and gift tax systems. After multiple resignation attempts, Ho himself left office in 2008, notifying Su's successor

Chang Chun-hsiung Chang Chun-hsiung (; born 23 March 1938) is a Taiwanese politician and lawyer who had served as the prime minister of Taiwan (officially Premier of the Executive Yuan) from 2000 to 2002 and 2007 to 2008, both under Chen Shui-bian's presidency. ...

of his intentions on 13 March.

Later career and death

Ho was appointed as the President of

National Taipei University National Taipei University (NTPU; ), founded in 1949, is a national university in Taiwan. Before 2000, the university was named the College of Law and Business, National Chung Hsing University (). The university's main campus is in Sanxia Distr ...

in August 2015. He died on 8 November 2016 at

National Taiwan University Hospital The National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH; ) is a medical facility located in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei, Taiwan. It started operations under Japanese rule in Daitōtei (today's Dadaocheng) on 18 June 1895, and moved to its present ...

, aged 64.

References

1952 births 2016 deaths Ministers of finance of Taiwan United States Department of the Treasury officials University of Michigan alumni Academic staff of the National Taiwan University Presidents of universities and colleges in Taiwan {{Taiwan-politician-stub