Nineteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Since 2019, the population of Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan, has declined from 2.6 million to 2.4 million, a decrease of 180,000 people, or nearly 7% of the city’s population. The main reason for this migration out of Taipei City is because of the high living cost, especially that of housing, which young people cannot afford. This population emigration poses a significant threat for Taipei City’s development, especially when the elderly population (aged 65 and above) already surpasses 21% in May 2023. If the decline continues, Taipei City may face the phenomenon of “hollowing out” that results in talent drain and change to dependent population structure. This demographic trend is uncommon compared to other major metropolises worldwide, such as New York and London, which typically have a higher proportion of working age population. To address this emigration problem, this article proposes an affordable housing solution: tiny houses. Tiny houses are houses utilizing multi-functional furniture and incorporating space saving equipment and appliances. As such tiny house is a practical solution to the densely populated Taipei City of high housing prices caused by extremely limited spaces. The affordability of tiny houses provides a cost-effective solution for individuals and young families seeking to live in Taipei City without bearing the burden of expensive mortgages or rent nor sacrificing a full lifestyle. By implementing tiny houses, Taipei City can offer affordable housing to attract the emigrated working age population back to the city and in turn to improve the city’s overall development.