ROC consumer voucher

The 2009 ROC consumer voucher programme was a part of an economic stimulus package held by the government of the Republic of China. The distribution of the vouchers to every ROC citizen born before 31 March 2009 and some foreign residents (i.e. spouses of citizens) began on 18 January 2009. The purpose of these vouchers was to combat the economic downturn in the country mainly due to the global financial crisis which began in 2007. According to government officials, the vouchers had to be picked up before 30 April 2009, had to be used before 30 September 2009, and could not be deposited into bank accounts. The overall amount distributed in the form of Consumer Vouchers was $85.8 billion New Taiwan Dollars, roughly around $2.75 billion USD.[1][2]

Each recipient was entitled to NT$3600, about US$115, the day the vouchers were distributed. Around 91% of the vouchers were issued during the first phase of the distribution. These vouchers could be used to purchase just about any item in Taiwan; however, there were a few notable restrictions. They could not be used to buy lottery tickets or stored-value merchandise, such as prepaid cards.

Based on the premise of a multiplier effect in economics, the ROC Government estimates a growth of 0.66% to 1% in GDP as a result of the increase in domestic demand from the circulation of these vouchers.[3]

During the 2020 Coronavirus recession the government of the Republic of China as part of its post-epidemic revitalisation of the business climate in the country, as the economy of Taiwan took a major hit from the global pandemic issued a new series of consumer vouchers (振興經濟消費券, "Promoting the economy consumption coupons").[4] These vouchers were available in two forms, people could register to receive them as physical vouchers which resembled banknotes or as digital vouchers that could be used on the internet tied to electronic payments, e-ticket, credit cards, as well as other digital consumption models.[4]

Initially the Ministry of Economic Affairs sought to only issue them digitally, but then under the pressure of public opinion they also launched these vouchers as paper certificates.[4] These consumer digital vouchers could be used through a website set up by the Republican Chinese government at "https://3000.gov.tw/".[4] In order to incentivise people to choose for the digital vouchers the Ministry of Economic Affairs launched a campaign where users of the digital vouchers could win a Gogoro VIVA Lite.[4] With the winners of the first wave of motor vehicles being drawn from July 6 to July 15 for 10 consecutive days, 1 draw every day, and the second wave of winners would be announced from July 16 to September 31.[4] The campaign would last a total of 15 weeks, and during the second round a winner was to be drawn out of once every week, with a total of 25 motor vehicles available for the draw.[4]

Eligible people could book them from 1 July 2020.[4] By the afternoon of 3 July, over 3 million people had already registered to receive these vouchers.[4] Of these registrations over 70% of the people opted to receive them as paper certificates while only 30% opted for the digital versions.[4]

The Executive Yuan originally estimated that the printing of 3,000,000 copies for the public would obviously be insufficient, and in respond to the large demand for physical vouchers tripled the production and the President of the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China, Su Tseng-chang, responded that the people wouldn't need to worry about delays.[4] Local governments and small businesses reportedly told people to book as early as possible so there would be minimal delay during the rollout.[4]

In December 2020 many shops started offering discounts to people that did not use their voucher yet as they neared their expiration date.[5][6]