Singapore Perspectives 2012

Singapore Inclusive: Bridging Divides

The Singapore Perspectives series is a yearly publication that provides critical analysis of emerging trends and issues Singapore faces in terms of social, economic and political development. It is a quick and essential reference for understanding the broad policy discussions that animate thought leaders, policy-makers and the public in the country during the immediate period or that are likely to do so in the short and medium term.

This edited volume brings together papers presented at the Singapore Perspectives 2012 Conference. The Conference came in the wake of Singapore's General Elections held on May 7, 2011, whose outcome resulted in Singapore's political leaders taking a fresh look at Singapore's public policy. More importantly, the government has pledged to reconnect with all segments of society, as it grapples with the issues that have arisen.

Some of the major issues discussed in the book include the widening income gap, the affordability of housing and healthcare, as well as the re-examination of the processes of citizen participation in policy-making. The book also includes the speech made by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, that outlines his views on the model of governance and policies that would help the country bridge the divides.

Co-published by the think-tank, the Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore, this is a useful publication for those with an interest in understanding the governance challenges facing a small, highly globalised economy and nation-state, or those who want a quick feel of the pulse of Singapore.

About the Contributors

Contents:

• Keynote Address:

  • Building an Inclusive Society (Tharman Shanmugaratnam)

• Business as Usual, No Longer?:

  • Income Growth and Redistribution: Issues and Challenges (Paul Cheung)
  • Singapore's New Growth Model (Chua Hak Bin and Shawlin Chaw)
  • Macroeconomic Trends and Labour Welfare in Singapore: A Focus on Retirement Adequacy (Hui Weng Tat)

• Social Development and Working Together: Towards a New Social Compact:

  • Re-Making Singapore Healthcare (Jeremy Lim and Daniel Lee)
  • Public Housing — Appreciating Assets? (Phang Sock Yong)
  • Retirement Adequacy and Housing Financing Through the CPF System (Chia Ngee Choon)

• Politics: A New Paradigm?:

  • Towards a More Equal, Self-Reliant Society (Ho Kwon Ping)
  • Information, Insulation and the Public Interest (Cherian George)
  • Model of Governance: Big Government or Big People? (Peter Ho)

• Background Paper:

  • Inequality and the Need for a New Social Compact (Manu Bhaskaran, Ho Seng Chee, Donald Low, Tan Kim Song, Sudhir Vadaketh and Yeoh Lam Keong)

Readership: Students, academics, policy makers and civil society activists, and general public interested in Singapore.
Key Features:

• Authored by prominent local academics, public intellectuals as well as former or key members from Singapore's Public Service and Government
• Focuses on current issues and challenges salient to Singapore, for example, the issue of income inequality