Singapore Economy In The 21st Century

Singapore's rapid ascent from Third World to First since its independence in 1965 has won it acclaim as an 'economic miracle'. Economic success has been accompanied by impressive achievements in social development, as reflected in international rankings of human capital and human development.The city state's achievements are founded on a socio-economic system characterised by low tax rates, flexible labour markets, and individual 'self-reliance', with state support centred on social investment in education and public housing.Entering the 21st century, however, slowing economic growth, an ageing population, global competition, and widening income dispersion have put the Singapore System under strain. This has prompted a significant refresh of social and economic policies over the past 15-20 years.This book aims to bring the reader up to date on Singapore's socio-economic development in the first two decades of the 21st century. It looks back to the shifts in policy thinking that have accompanied structural changes to Singapore's society and economy, taking stock of the policy innovations aimed at sustaining income growth, economic security, and social mobility. It looks around to compare Singapore's approach to those of other countries facing similar challenges, situating Singapore's experience in the wider international discourse on public policy. Finally, it looks ahead to how the Singapore System may evolve in the years to come.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the economic development of Singapore, easily the leading commercial and financial centre in Southeast Asia throughout the twentieth century. This development has been based on a strategic location at the crossroads of Asia, a free trade economy, and a dynamic entrepreneurial tradition. Initial twentieth-century economic success was linked to a group of legendary Chinese entrepreneurs, but by mid-century independent Singapore looked to multinational enterprise to deliver economic growth. Nonetheless exports of manufactures accounted for only part of Singaporean expansion, and by the 1980s Singapore was a major international financial centre and leading world exporter of commercial services. Throughout this study Dr Huff assesses the interaction of government policy and market forces, and places the transformation of the Singaporean economy in the context of both development theory and experience elsewhere in East Asia.

This book contains the text of the Singapore Lecture delivered by Gerhard Schroder on 13 May 2003.

Research on Singapore's economic history has been complicated by the absence of economic data on pre-independence Singapore. This book aims to fill the gap by presenting a time-series of historical GDP estimates for the periods 1900-39 and 1950-60. The new data presented in the book sheds light on two key aspects of Singapore's economic history, namely the relationship between economic instability and growth, as well as the government's fiscal policy towards economic growth. As the first comprehensive empirical economic history of twentieth-century Singapore, this book is a valuable reference source for academics and graduate students interested in development and empirical economics.

In this book Gavin Peebles and Peter Wilson offer an historical overview of the rapid growth and development of the Singapore economy, detailing the institutions and policies which have made this growth possible. They examine the current state of the economy and its future in terms of prospective growth and structural change. The authors discuss the conflicting views on the role of government and the public sector in the economy, and analyse the quality and sustainability of growth. They explore the structural changes which have occurred due to high rates of savings and investment, a large balance of payments surplus and monetary, financial and fiscal conditions. Important in this analysis is the extent to which Singaporeans themselves have benefited in terms of welfare. The authors also identify the key roles played by trade policy, and financial and exchange rate institutions in creating and sustaining growth. In the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, they assess the current health of the economy and the implementation of reforms to achieve the government's vision of a 'New Singapore'. Based on the authors' own combined experiences of living in Singapore for over 20 years, this broadbased and analytical book sheds light on Singapore's status in the world economy. The integration of economic, social and political perspectives will ensure the book's broad appeal amongst scholars, students and researchers interested in growth and economic development in Singapore and South-east Asia.

This volume provides an intensive review of the economic competitiveness of Singapore's economy. It identifies and analyses the strategies which will allow the economy to retain its competitive advantage in the years ahead in an increasingly globalised economic environment, considerably liberalised international trading and investment climate, and with regional economies challenging the country's competitive edge as a regional transportation hub, international financial centre and a primary regional centre for technology and education. Dialogues and interviews with managers and CEOs of industries in the private and public sectors are also included.

Singapore's quick recovery from the recent economic crisis is attributed to its strong public policies. This book suggests further strengthening of the country's public policy in order to improve its competitive edge in the 21st century. The policy issues discussed fall into four broad categories: Economic and Technological Policy includes an analysis of how the Singapore economy fared under the recent regional economic crisis and explores how it meets the twin calls of globalisation and regionalisation. Fiscal and Regulatory Policy includes a discussion of current trends in government revenue and expenditure policy, and the country\rquote s regional role in containing land/forest fires in Southeast Asia. Resource Development and Management Policy discusses the issue among others, of the human resource and employment challenges Singapore faces in the context of the knowledge-based economy. Educational and Social Policy includes a description on how overseas education augments and complements local education in Singapore.

This book is a collection of invited and selected papers from the Singapore Economic Policy Forum 2009 around a central theme, Challenges Facing Singapore in the Post-Crisis Era and Policy Responses. There are very few books on the Singapore economy. This one is largely non-technical in nature and brings the reader up to speed on the key issues facing policymakers in Singapore in the wake of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The contributors are all experts in their field and have extensive experience of the Singapore economy. The book also offers an international dimension to look at the role of China in the Asian economy and the impact on Asia of reforms to the international financial architecture.