[mytailorisrich]

Many educated Chinese moved from the mainland to Taiwan after 1949, or returned from the West to Taiwan instead of the mainland, as well.

So the government had the brainpower to carry out their policy and Taiwan benefited hugely from the influx of people from the mainland.

A famous example is the founder of TSMC. Foxconn founder's family is also from the mainland, etc.

Taiwanese culture of studying, really is Chinese/confucian culture of studying.

[davidjytang]

Don't want to diminish post-'49 mainlander's contribution to Taiwan, but under Japanese rule, there were highly educated Taiwan locals. More 200 thousand Taiwanese studied abroad for college before '45. Sadly many were wiped by then-ROC administration.