Where the emigration wave of the 1990s differs most from previous emigration is there are fewer cases of entire families going away. Perhaps only the children and part of the family assets are sent abroad, but professional or business activities remain rooted in Taiwan. These "emigrants" keep their ties in the home country, giving them the option to go forward or retreat depending upon circumstances.
八十年代移民風潮和早期不同處在於，舉家移出的情形並不多，他們也許把孩子和一部分財產外移，但仍有部分事業留在台灣，並沒有和出生地斷絕關係，採取「進可攻，退可守」的策略。