Hu Sheng-cheng

Hu studied economics at the University of Rochester in the United States, where he earned a Ph.D,[1] after having graduated from National Taiwan University in 1962.[2] He remained in the United States, and began a teaching career at Purdue University in 1968.[3] While working in the U.S., Hu authored a pair of reports to the Social Security Administration.[4] Hu returned to Taiwan in 1996, teaching at NTU and holding a concurrent appointment at the Academia Sinica until 2001.[5]

Hu was appointed a minister without portfolio by premier Chang Chun-hsiung in 2001 and had oversight of financial policies.[6][7] Hu was retained by Chang's successor Yu Shyi-kun when Yu took office in February 2002.[8] Later that year, Yu initiated a six-year development plan devoted to promotion of environmentally friendly industries.[9] He placed Hu in charge of research and development, high value-added industry, and the establishment of an operation center.[10] Upon the resignation of finance minister Lee Yung-san in November, Hu was considered a potential successor.[11][12] In 2004, he was named the head of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, in addition to his duties as minister without portfolio.[13] After the resignation of Shih Jun-ji in January 2007, Hu was selected to chair the Financial Supervisory Commission.[14] He stepped down in July 2008, and was replaced by Gordon Chen.[15]

Hu later returned to the Academia Sinica as a research fellow.[16] He was an adviser to Wellington Koo's 2014 Taipei mayoral campaign.[17] In August 2016, Hu assumed the chairmanship of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research.[18] He fell ill that same year,[19] and died of pulmonary calcification at National Taiwan University Hospital on 10 July 2018, aged 77.[20]